Couple who fell ill in Salibsury test negative for Novichok, hospital confirms

The couple admitted to hospital after falling ill in Salisbury have both tested negative for Novichok, Salisbury District Hospital confirms.

Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at the hospital, confirmed the duo - identified in reports as Russian-born Anna Shapiro and partner Alex King – have also been discharged.

Ms Shapiro, 30, had previously claimed she was the victim of a plot, saying: “Vladimir Putin wants me dead”.

She claimed she went to look for her husband in the toilets of Prezzo restaurant and found him “foaming at the mouth” on Sunday, the Sun reported.

Ms Shapiro then also fell ill and ran to the toilet to be sick, while others called emergency services. The city centre was placed on lockdown amid heightened tensions following the Novichok attack on the Skripals in March.

In a statement, Ms Wilkinson said: "Both patients are now medically fit and there is no need for them to be in hospital.

"While this incident did not involve nerve agents, it was still clearly very stressful for our staff who, once again, demonstrated the very best of the NHS."

Witnesses described a scene like "Armageddon" as police and emergency services, some wearing protective suits, rushed to the scene as a major incident was declared at the Italian restaurant.

Emergency services were called to the city centre restaurant at 6.45pm and the pair were taken to Salisbury District Hospital.

Wiltshire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

The incident came amid heightened tensions in Salisbury in the wake of the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in March.

The Prezzo is a short walk from Queen Elizabeth Gardens, which was until recently closed off after 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess was fatally poisoned by the nerve agent in June.

Additional reporting by Press Association