Wife of multi-millionaire water boss dies after being taken ill at luxury villa: Woman, 37, died on holiday with her husband, 65... in tragedy that came five years after he lost his first wife to breast cancer

The wife of a millionaire water company boss has died suddenly on holiday in Menorca, it emerged yesterday.

Elsie Mogford, 37, had been married for two years to Steve Mogford, the 65-year-old head of United Utilities.

A keen horsewoman and mother of two sons from a previous marriage, she was taken ill at their £1million villa on the south of the Spanish island on Tuesday.

Luxury: The £2m yacht they used to own, second left 

An ambulance was called but Mrs Mogford, who is of Greek descent, could not be saved and was declared dead in hospital.

She married Mr Mogford in June 2019 following the death of his first wife, Barbara, 61, from breast cancer in 2016.

He has two daughters who are around the same age as his second wife.

The cause of death has not been confirmed by Spanish officials. Mrs Mogford had posted a number of photographs of their holiday on social media, including ones of her sunbathing on their £2million yacht.

Last night a family member told the Mail: 'I'm in a state of shock. I don't know many details apart from she was on holiday in Menorca and she died on Tuesday morning.

'They have a villa over there and all I know is that they called an ambulance.

'She has two boys and it's so sad for them. She was a very good horse rider and a lovely person. I got on well with her.'

Neighbours living near the couple's £1.5million farmhouse outside Chorley in Lancashire said family and friends were seen sobbing outside the property on Tuesday.

There was no answer yesterday at the gated property, which has its own stables and dressage arena and is situated in beautiful countryside, close to Anglezarke Reservoir. 

One local told the Mail: 'It is very quiet around here but there were quite a few people outside the Mogfords' property on Tuesday crying and hugging.

'It's very sad. The rumour is she had a heart attack, but nobody really knows what has happened.'

Mrs Mogford, whose children are aged 15 and 11, has competed in eventing and dressage and was devoted to her horses. She had also posted comments about missing her 'gorgeous' animals after she left England for Menorca a fortnight ago.

Mr Mogford has been at the helm of United Utilities for a decade and earned £2.94million last year in salary, bonus and benefits. 

During that time the firm, which provides water and waste services to more than three million households and businesses in the North West of England, has regularly come under fire for paying Mr Mogford's huge wages, while presiding over massive water leaks and the threat of imposing hosepipe bans in hot weather. 

The businessman, who has a science background, worked for British Aerospace for many years. He switched to an Italian defence company before moving to United Utilities in 2011.

Mr Mogford was educated at Barking Abbey Grammar School in east London and Queen Elizabeth College, part of the University of London. 

A family spokesman said: 'The family of Elsie Mogford announce her death, in hospital in Menorca, on Tuesday 24 August. Elsie was a wonderful, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend and she will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

'The family request privacy at this very sad time.'