Sister of Shoreham disaster victim died after catching 'mystery virus'

Bob and Caroline Schilt returned home from visiting the grave of their son, Jacob, to find their “caring and loving” daughter, Louise, dead on April 5, at the age of 34, in Brighton. 

Caroline described her daughter as an “avid reader, animal lover and a supportive friend who cared more for the welfare of others”.

She said: “She was my rock when Bob was ill. We did so much together.

“The gap she has left in my life is immense and I still can’t believe she is gone.

“She talked and wrote so much about Jacob after he died. We found strength in each other.

Read more: Disaster continues for families as Shoreham pilot wants licence back

“Bob and I must now get used to being two instead of three. Our children will be in our hearts forever.”

Jacob was one of the 11 men who died following the Shoreham Air Show disaster on August 22, 2015, when a jet crashed in a deadly fireball onto a busy dual carriageway.

Caroline and Bob Schilt with a picture of their son, Jacob, who died in the Shoreham Air Show disaster (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)An inquest held in Horsham today heard that two years before her death, Louise had contracted a “mystery virus” during the Covid pandemic.

Over three visits to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, more than five litres of fluid were drained from her chest.

Pathologist Doctor Wright told the inquest that a post-mortem examination found Louise’s heart to be very abnormal, as well as a thickening and fibrosis of the sack which surrounds the heart.

He said: “In this condition, it becomes very scarred and doesn’t move very much.

“It prevents the heart from moving very much and can cause heart failure.

“We don’t know why these happen. I think what she died of was a rare complication from the drainage of fluid.

“Why some people get it and others don’t isn’t entirely understood. It can be related to how much and how the fluid is withdrawn, how much suction is used.

“Younger people tend to get it more than older people.

“This is the only case of this I’ve seen in 25 years. These conditions are rare and poorly understood.”

Mr and Mrs Schilt said they believe Louise’s death was contributed to by delays to her care.

The inquest continues in Horsham.