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family of Novichok victim Don Sturgess A statement has been issued following the final report of the investigation into his death.
In 2018 a 44-year-old man died in Amesbury, Wiltshire after exposure to a nerve agent.
Here is the full statement, read from Marcia Willis Stewart Casey MS Sturges’ Family.
“Our heartfelt objective throughout this long process has always been to do the right thing by our daughter, mother and sister Dawn.
“Immediately after his death, Wiltshire Police wrongly portrayed Don as a drug user, and the public was wrongly led to believe that he had somehow contributed to his death.
“As the evidence at the inquest showed, this was a serious mistake by Wiltshire Police which should never have happened.
“The police’s erroneous assessment overruled the paramedics’ assessment that there was a real possibility that Don was suffering from nerve agent poisoning. The Chairman concluded that this error had the potential to put other members of the public and emergency responders at risk. We, and most importantly Don, have been proven right today.
“The investigation has concluded that Don was an entirely innocent victim, killed by Novichok, which was a direct result of Russia’s cruel and cynical attempt to assassinate Sergei Skripal.
“The investigation’s report concludes that there were UK Government failures to manage and assess the risk posed by Russia to Sergei Skripal. Skripal was branded a traitor by Putin and convicted of treason. Yet the risk he faced from Russian retaliation was not adequately and regularly assessed.
“As we have always acknowledged, this put the British public at risk and led to Don’s death.
“The chair considered secret evidence from the government and UK intelligence services. Today’s report does not publicly explain how the risks that led to Don’s death will be prevented in the future.
“There was not an adequate risk assessment of the Skripals, but no protective steps were taken. This is a serious concern for us and for the future.
“The inquiry’s report finds that the public health response to the Salisbury attack was deficient. Important training for emergency responders should have been more widely disseminated and should have mentioned the significant risk that symptoms of nerve agent poisoning will be missed.
“After Don was killed, the public was given clear advice: Do not pick up objects you did not drop. We have always believed that advice should have been issued after the Salisbury attack, before Don was killed.
“The investigation has found that important advice was not properly and adequately considered before Don’s death.
“Today’s report gives us some answers, but also leaves many unanswered questions.
“We always wanted to ensure that what happened to Don does not happen to others; lessons must be learned; and meaningful changes must be made. Today’s report makes no recommendations.
“This is a matter of real concern. There has to be reflection and real change.”
“Today marks the end of this public process. We are devastated by Don’s death. He is and always will be missed.”
“The family will not be raising any questions. We ask that our privacy be respected.”