Black Mirror star sues UK gym for $130,000 after her mother ‘died from overheating in sauna’

Black Mirror star Milanka Brooks is taking legal action against a UK gym chain after her mother died from heatstroke following a visit to one of their facilities.

The actress, known for her role in the Emmy-winning episode USS Callister, is suing Sports Direct Fitness Ltd - the company behind Everlast gyms - for up to £100,000 ($128,000) following the death of her mother, Mileva Brooks.

Mileva, a 75-year-old former model, collapsed after using the sauna at the Everlast gym on Henrietta Street in Cheltenham in August 2022.

She died three days later in hospital after suffering respiratory distress, according to a coroner’s inquest.

Paramedics recorded her body temperature at 39.2°C when they arrived at the scene. An inquest held in September 2023 confirmed she died from heatstroke.

Pathologist Dr Matthew Beesley told the inquest, “In my opinion, the most likely cause of death in this case is the effects of heatstroke.”

“It is not possible to determine on the basis of this examination alone how long Mileva had been exposed to heat in the sauna or estimate what the temperature of the sauna was.”

He added, “There is no evidence of any disease that would explain the high body temperature detected at the scene or anything else to provide an alternative cause of death.”

Milanka, 41, has now filed a lawsuit at London’s High Court as the administrator of her mother’s estate.

The claim is being brought under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and seeks compensation for personal injury and related losses.

Milanka’s mother had joined the Cheltenham gym just six months before the incident. She described her as her “silver lining”, “partner in crime” and “best friend in the world”.

A rising star of British comedy, Milanka made her screen debut in My Family before landing a recurring role in ITV’s Benidorm, playing Johnny Vegas’ fiancée, Ionela.

She later appeared as Princess Svetlana in Channel 4’s royal spoof The Windsors and featured in BBC2’s Boomers.

Her breakout moment came with Black Mirror, where she played Elena Tulaska, a blue-skinned alien officer, in the acclaimed 2017 episode USS Callister.

Featured image credit: Netflix / Milanka Brooks