Eva Rausing found dead at home. Photo: http://youtu.be/ZT_bf-l6rVM
The background
Eva Rausing (48), the wife of Hans Rausing (49), one of Britain’s richest men, was found dead at the couple’s house in London after Hans Rausing was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Rausing, who has four children, is an heir to the £4.5 billion TetraPak drinks carton fortune, and was picked up by police after being found driving in a wayward manner in South London. Class A drugs were found on him.
A post-mortem, reported The Daily Mail, failed to find a cause of death; further toxicology tests will be instituted. Hans Rausing is being treated in hospital. It’s not the first time drugs have played a part in their lives: Eva Rausing was arrested in 2008 when she tried to smuggle drugs into the US Embassy. Reports suggest a gilded life blighted by drug abuses.
Eva Rausing has no more chances left
The BBC ran a profile of Eva Rausing. She was born Eva Kemeny, the daughter of a Pepsi Cola executive, and married Hans in the 1980s. She was a friend of Prince Charles, who said she should given a second chance; Richard Pendlebury on The Daily Mail said that Eva Rausing had “squandered” all her chances. This death – “tragic and premature” though it is, is not surprising. It’s a reminder that “money and happiness are often strangers.” The Rausing family have been “blighted”. It’s a far cry from the small town where the Rausings gave birth to their idea. Hans Rausing has “long lived under the shadow” of his father – perhaps “lack of purpose” in his life “dogged” his existence. And for “ all the money that was at her disposal thanks to a simple milk carton, Eva Rausing has no more chances left.”
The Rausings were big philanthropists
The Rausings, reported The Telegraph, gave millions to charity, and gave support to many addiction charities, including Action on Addiction. John Bingham, on the same paper, said that the couple met at “a drug rehabilitation clinic”, and made “an odd couple.” They “kept a low profile.” But friends were aware of their problems.
The grief of the families
Both families have expressed their grief: Tom and Nancy Kemeny said in a statement: “We and all of our family are deeply saddened by the death of our beloved daughter. Eva was a devoted wife for 20 years and mother of four much-loved and wonderful children. During her short lifetime she made a huge philanthropic impact, supporting a large number of charitable causes, not only financially, but using personal experiences. She bravely fought her health issues for many years. The family is devastated.” The Rausing family said: “Hans and Marit Rausing and their family are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of their daughter-in-law Eva Louise Rausing. They ask that their privacy be respected at this sad time.”
