A scientist who helped steer Britain through the Covid crisis has been remembered by her family as “the loveliest, kindest person who always inspired and cared for others” after she died in a cycling accident in Italy.
Susannah Boddie, 27, was the lead health data scientist at No10 Downing Street and had been a civil servant after graduating from the University of Cambridge in 2019.
Ms Boddie, of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, suffered fatal injuries after being thrown from her bike as she descended a steep downhill trail on a woodland path near Lake Garda on Saturday morning.
According to her LinkedIn, she became Health Team Manager at Number 10 in December 2022.
A statement from Ms Boddie‘s family, who asked for privacy at this time, recalled her vibrancy and the affection with which she was held by her family and friends.
It read: “Susannah lived life to the full and had achieved so much in her short life. She crammed more into her life than you would have thought possible.
“She was the loveliest, kindest person who always inspired and cared for others and was adored by all her many friends.
“She will leave the biggest hole in our family and that of Rob, her much loved partner.
“She was the most wonderful daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend you could ever wish for, and her memory will continue to inspire us in all we do.”
A Downing Street spokesman added: “Susannah was an incredible scientist, an inspiring sportswoman, a loved and admired colleague and friend to those at No 10 and many others within the civil service.
“Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.”
It is believed Ms Boddie‘s work had involved offering advice to the Government in its handling of the pandemic.
She gained a degree in pharmacology and also had a masters’ in systems biology from Cambridge, according to her LinkedIn account.
