Kevin Campbell's cause of death given as inquest hears ex-footballer was 'desperately unlucky'

Kevin Campbell's cause of death given as inquest hears ex-footballer was 'desperately unlucky'

The ex-Everton and Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell died at Manchester Royal Infirmary in June aged 54

Kevin Campbell pictured playing for Everton in 1999 (Image: Getty Images )

There was a delay in diagnosing a heart infection which caused the death of former Premier League star Kevin Campbell, an inquest heard.

But a coroner found that did not significantly contribute to the ex-Everton and Arsenal striker's death at Manchester Royal Infirmary on June 15, 2024.

‌

Article continues below

The 54-year-old was 'desperately unwell' when he was first admitted to MRI in January that year, an inquest at Manchester coroner's court heard today (April 14).

He had complained of lethargy, tiredness and breathlessness. Tests revealed he had suffered a stroke and also had heart failure, chronic kidney disease and an acute liver injury.

He was admitted to intensive care and given dialysis and antibiotics. After more than fortnight in hospital his condition improved enough for him to be discharged.

‌

But, the inquest heard, it was still unclear exactly what had caused Mr Campbell's illness. Dr Robert Henney, a consultant physician at MRI, told the inquest Mr Campbell was 'desperately unwell' when he was admitted to hospital and it was probably only due to his 'physical fitness' that he survived to that point.

Mr Campbell, who also played for Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and Trabzonspor in Turkey, then suffered a second stroke, his weight fell dramatically and his health deteriorated significantly.

On May 17 last year he was re-admitted to MRI and five days later a consultant told his family they didn't think he would survive.

‌

Mr Campbell, who won a league championship, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup during his time at Arsenal, had 'multi systemic infection' and sepsis. His toes had become gangrenous and while in hospital he had also developed pneumonia.

'He was desperately unlucky'

Mr Campbell lost weight during his hospital stay from 124kg to 98kg but it had plummeted to just 59kg when he was readmitted two months later on May 17. On May 22 he was placed under palliative care. But after Dr Henney met with Mr Campbell on June 4 and found him 'awake, alert, conscious', a decision was taken to restart treatment.

Dr Henney said: "I didn't understand why a 54-year-old man as previously fit as he was was dying and I wanted to fully investigate it. I didn't think there had been an explanation for what had changed, how he could go from being someone who was expected to continue getting better."

‌

Kevin Campbell worked as a media pundit after retiring from the game (Image: PA )

The inquest heard tests then revealed Mr Campbell was suffering from a 'rare' heart infection known as infective endocarditis. Dr Henney described the former footballer as being 'desperately unlucky' to have suffered 'two completely separate and unrelated insults to his heart in a short space of time'.

He was moved to a high dependency unit and died at 5.30am on June 15. A cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis and hospital-acquired pneumonia.

‌

The inquest heard that following his death the MRI declared a Level 5 patient safety incident, the most serious category. That was later downgraded to Level 2 as a subsequent mortality review.

An internal hospital investigation found there were delays in diagnosing infective endocarditis, which the inquest heard, Mr Campbell likely contracted via broken skin on his feet.

Fans hold a Kevin Campbell banner during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park (Image: Getty Images )

‌

Asked by area coroner Zak Golembeck if those delays 'more than minimally' contributed to Mr Campbell's death, Dr Henney replied: "I don't think his treatment would have been substantially different.

"What he needed was surgery, but he was far too unwell. I think unfortunately there was nothing else we could have done."

Prof Peter Selby, the MRI's associate medical director, told the inquest medics should have shown a 'little more curiosity' into the cause of Mr Campbell's drastic weight loss. He said MRI was now working to set up an alert system to inform doctors and nurses when a patient has lost a significant amount of weight.

‌

Coroner delivers conclusion

In statement provided to the inquest Mr Campbell's brother Harold, sister Lorna and son Tyrese, a professional footballer at Sheffield United, spoke of their pride at Mr Campbell's football and media career, but also at the impact he had on society, as the first Black captain of Everton.

Speaking via video link, Harold Campbell told the inquest his brother was the family's 'superstar'. He added: "When he retired I think what really got people in tune with him was his personality. He was just a normal person. He was very, very loved."

An earlier hearing heard that Mr Campbell's family had concerns about delays to his diagnosis. But at Monday's hearing Harold and Lorna said they were 'happy' with the coroner's conclusion that Mr Campbell died of natural causes.

Article continues below

Delivering that verdict, Mr Golembeck said: "While it is my finding that there was delay in diagnosing infected endocarditis during that second admission to hospital, it also my finding that the delay did not more than minimally contribute to Kevin’s death on the balance of probabilities.

"Kevin died from a naturally occurring illness which very sadly on June 15 reached its natural end."

Click here to read article