Daughter of BBC filmmaker Andrew Cooper loses her fight for life against mystery illness

By Jill Reilly
Updated: 08:57 EST, 6 January 2012

 
A British wildlife expert and broadcaster has died from a mystery virus in her adopted Australia, her family has revealed.

Julia Cooper, 33, had become ill after an expedition to East Africa earlier in the year.

She had travelled there with her partner and fellow naturalist Dr Martin Cohen but died in Brisbane a week before Christmas.

Mystery virus: A British wildlife expert and broadcaster Julia Cooper became ill after an expedition to East Africa earlier in the year

Mystery virus: A British wildlife expert and broadcaster Julia Cooper became ill after an expedition to East Africa earlier in the year

Exploring couple: Miss Cooper had travelled to East Africa, with her partner and fellow naturalist Dr Martin Cohen but died in Brisbane a week before Christmas

Exploring couple: Miss Cooper had travelled to East Africa, with her partner and fellow naturalist Dr Martin Cohen but died in Brisbane a week before Christmas

Today her father, BBC naturalist and film maker Andrew Cooper, spoke of his family's devastation.

'Nothing prepares you for this. She was just so full of life, she had so many friends.

Devastated: Her father, BBC naturalist and film maker Andrew Cooper, spoke of his family's grief

Devastated: Her father, BBC naturalist and film maker Andrew Cooper, spoke of his family's grief

'Julia always said she wanted to follow in my footsteps and she did.

'She worked with some of the biggest names in the business.

'They travelled everywhere in Australasia, having an absolute ball.

'Any major natural history crew landing in Australia knocked on their doors asking to be led by them. Julia loved the tropics, it was so exotic.

'She had a natural affinity with animals, she wasn't afraid of them and they weren't afraid of her.

'Julia was constantly on the go, she loved adventure and wildlife.'

Mr Cooper and his wife Joanne took younger brother Charles and Julia on their global adventures and she quickly developed a passion for the subject.

She contributed to many programmes including Springwatch and met Dr Cohen while working for the ABC Natural History Unit on Wild Down Under.

They settled in the wet tropics world heritage area of Queensland.

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