Horrified woman thinks dying man on cigarette packet is her dad

A horrified mother claims that an upsetting warning photo on cigarette packets is of her dad dying in hospital.

Jodi Charles, 42, noticed the photo on a friend’s packet of Amber Leaf tobacco and says she is “110 per cent sure” that the picture is of her father, David Ross.

David passed away in 2015 and Jodi says there is “no way” he would have given his consent for the photo to be used.

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The 66 year-old former ambulance driver did smoke, but died of unrelated bone marrow problems, septicaemia and lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

Jodi thinks that someone must have taken the photo on one of the multiple times he was in intensive care.

The photo shows a man lying unconscious in a hospital bed with a breathing tube in his mouth.

However, the hospital denies this and the EU Commission claims the image is of someone else – Jodi says she is yet to receive proof of that.

The picture is one of 42 gory health warning images used on all cigarette and tobacco sold in the UK. They are required by EU law in a bid to cut smoking.

Jodi, from Purfleet, Essex, explained, “My friend who smokes tobacco came round on Tuesday and my 14-year-old daughter picked up the wrapper.

“She ran into the room and said, ‘Look, it’s granddad!’

“When I saw that photo, I just said, ‘Oh my God.’ I just knew without any doubt that it was dad. I was horrified.”

She says that the hairline and various small facial details are all unique to her dad.

“I am 110 per cent sure it is him and that there is no way he gave permission for such a terrible picture to be used. It’s terribly upsetting.

She added that the caption is “absolutely disgusting” because David didn’t have a stroke and he wasn’t disabled, nor did he die of a smoking-related illness.

A European Commission spokesman said all the people in warning photos had given consent, adding, “We are very sorry for the distress caused to this young lady who believes that her father is depicted in this health warning.

“However, having checked the details of her father against the identity of the person depicted, we can categorically state that the person in this picture is not David Ross.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust also denies that the photos are of Jodi’s father.

But Jodi remains unconvinced, saying “If it isn’t him, I want proof of that, and of the fact that he signed to say that they could do this.

“If they don’t give me that, I’m going to sue them.”