Jemima Howden, a 21-year-old British eventing star with Olympic ambitions, was dramatically airlifted out of Colombia last month after being struck down by a suspected sepsis infection while travelling in South America. The daughter of billionaire insurance tycoon David Howden was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where she spent nearly a week receiving urgent treatment before returning home to the UK to recover.
A Terrifying Ordeal and a Global Rescue Effort
Jemima fell ill towards the end of last month while on holiday in Colombia with friends. Her condition, believed to be sepsis, required immediate and serious medical intervention. She was initially treated in Colombia before a complex international evacuation was coordinated.
Her mother, Fiona 'Fifi' Howden, 57, described the episode as "the scariest week" and paid tribute to the medical teams who helped. In an emotional online post, she said the experience represented "the darkest of terror" and credited a "global network of powerful emergency powers" for her daughter's safe return.
A family spokesperson confirmed: "On a recent holiday to Colombia with friends, Jemima Howden was taken ill with suspected sepsis. She received immediate medical attention in Colombia and was then evacuated back home to the UK where she has made a quick recovery. The Howden family is extremely grateful for the support of the medical professionals involved."
Recovery at Home and a Life of Privilege
Ms Howden shared a stark image on Instagram from the airlift, showing her strapped to a stretcher surrounded by medical equipment and clinicians. By Monday, she was able to post an update, stating: "Very happy to be back home after a scary week in hospital... Thank you to my INSANE family & friends." She also posted a lighter moment from her hospital room, featuring her mother with the caption highlighting finding humour even "in the bottom of the pits of hell".
The incident has shone a light on the high-profile Howden family. Jemima's father, David Howden, 62, is a billionaire entrepreneur who built the Howden Group into a global insurance powerhouse with revenues of £3 billion. A passionate horseman, he was awarded a CBE this year and owns several racehorses, including Running Lion, a winner at Royal Ascot.
The family resides at the spectacular 5,000-acre Cornbury House estate in Oxfordshire, which also hosts the prestigious Cornbury House Horse Trials and the Wilderness festival, a magnet for celebrities and aristocrats.
Olympic Dreams and a Promising Equestrian Career
Jemima Howden is forging her own path as one of Britain's most promising young riders. She has already represented Team GB at the FEI European Championships for Young Riders and competes nationally with her horses Malv and Oreo.
She has spoken openly about her ambition to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. In a recent interview with HELLO! magazine, she said: "There's such talent in the British team that it would be very tough, but I think going to the Olympics and representing your country would be an amazing achievement." She recently impressed at her family's own Cornbury House Horse Trials, continuing to build her reputation in the sport.
