Animal trainer dies of swine flu

5 January 2011, 14:07 | Updated: 5 January 2011, 14:55

An animal trainer who worked on the Harry Potter films was a victim of swine flu it was confirmed today (Wednesday January 5th).

Caroline Benoist, 26, who worked at the Leavesden Studios near Watford became ill in the week before Christmas.

She was treated at Watford General Hospital before being transfered to the Royal Brompton in London where she died last weekend.

Earlier, speaking from their home in Hemel Hempstead, Herts her devastated boyfriend Guillaume Grange said: "She was a lovely, fit healthy girl. She had no health problems. There was nothing wrong with her."

West Herts NHS Trust said: " A person suffering from swine flu was treated at Watford General Hospital and then transfered to the Royal Brompton where they subsequently died."

Gill Goodlad is a Public Health Nurse at NHS Hertfordshire. She’s been telling Heart that swine flu is this year’s season flu and that they’ve seen more of the young coming down with it:

“It seems that it’s affecting younger people. So overall we’re not seeing more people affected by the winter flu this winter than we would any other year but its younger people that are being more affected and particularly pregnant women seem to be very susceptible.”

If you have flu the advice is to stay at home, make sure to use disposable tissues ands to wash your hands. People should drink plenty of fluids and take medicine that can be bought over the counter at chemists. If the symptoms get worse, you have trouble breathing, or haven’t recovered after a week you should contact your doctor.

For more advice about flu go to www.hertfordshire.nhs.co.uk