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Former Premier League Striker Kevin Campbell Dies at 54
Kevin Campbell, a well-known retired Premier League footballer, passed away due to natural causes related to severe heart and kidney failure, as determined by a coroner. He was 54 years old at the time of his death on June 15, at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
During an inquest held at Manchester Coroner’s Court, it was revealed that Campbell was gravely ill upon his hospitalization months prior to his passing, having lost more than half of his body weight. Coroner Zak Golombek reported that while there was a delay in diagnosing a rare heart infection, it “did not more than minimally contribute” to his death.
Dr. Robert Henney, a consultant at the hospital, indicated that Campbell’s condition was dire, noting that most individuals in such a state would likely not survive long enough to reach medical care. The former striker, who had notable stints at Everton and Arsenal, had enjoyed good health up until roughly January 2024.
The inquest further elaborated that while Campbell experienced heart and kidney failure, an underlying cause for his deteriorating health was not identified during his initial six-and-a-half week hospitalization. Following a period of treatment, he was discharged in March 2024 but unfortunately faced a readmission in May after a sudden health decline.
Coroner Golombek highlighted that Campbell’s significant weight loss between hospital admissions was concerning. He stated that the lack of timely diagnosis for infective endocarditis, a serious heart infection, had “not more than minimally contributed” to the eventual outcome, based on probabilities established during the investigation.
The initial cause of Campbell’s death was listed as multi-organ failure. The Manchester Royal Infirmary escalated the incident to a level 5 patient safety issue, examining if delayed diagnosis played a role. Subsequently, this designation was revised to a level 2 incident, concluding that while his death could potentially have been avoided, it was deemed “not very likely.”
Dr. Henney explained that prior tests and imaging results indicated that the heart infection was not present during Campbell’s first hospital stay. Dr. Colin Cunnington, a cardiology expert, suggested that the infection likely developed during the period between his two hospital admissions, which coincided with his rapid weight loss.
Ultimately, Golombek classified the medical cause of death as “multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis and hospital-acquired pneumonia.”
Kevin Campbell had a distinguished career, clinching titles such as the 1991 league championship, FA Cup, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Arsenal, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of football.
Source
www.bbc.com