The family of former Arsenal and Everton star Kevin Campbell have ‘questions’ about the delay in diagnosing the illness which tragically claimed his life when he was just 54, a coroner was told today.
Mr Campbell died at the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) on June 15 last year with a provisional cause of death given as multi-organ failure due to a heart infection.
An internal review into his care conducted by senior doctors found there had been ‘some shortcomings’ in his treatment, a pre-inquest review heard today.
But while one of the clinicians believed there was ‘strong evidence’ that his death had been avoidable, others had disagreed.
During his career, Mr Campbell scored 59 goals in 224 games for Arsenal.
Alongside the 1990/91 league title, he also won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup at Highbury.
Last year a coroner was told that major safety concerns were raised over his care after he spent a month in hospital in the run-up to his death.
Today Manchester Coroner’s Court heard more details of the run-up to his tragically premature death.
Kevin Campbell (pictured in 2002) died at the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) on June 15 last year with a provisional cause of death given as multi-organ failure due to a heart infection
During his career, Mr Campbell scored 59 goals in 224 games for Arsenal
One of the doctors conducting the mortality review concluded there was ‘strong evidence’ that Mr Campbell’s death had been avoidable (pictured: Kevin Campbell at St James Park in November 2023)
Mr Campbell spent six-and-a-half weeks at the MRI in early 2024 but ‘no clear underlying cause’ for his heart failure was identified, it was told.
He then spent a few days at Salford Royal Hospital with a suspected stroke before a second admission to the MRI.
Sebastian Naughton, representing his family, said they had ‘questions’ about Mr Campbell’s treatment.
He said a ‘mortality review’ carried out by senior doctors after Mr Campbell’s death found there had been ‘some shortcomings’ in his treatment at the MRI.
‘The mortality review notes identified two-and-a-half weeks during the second admission when there was a delay in review by renal and cardiology, as a result of which there was delayed diagnosis of infective endocarditis,’ the barrister said.
One of the doctors conducting the mortality review concluded there was ‘strong evidence’ that his death had been avoidable.
But the others felt there was less evidence of avoidability, the coroner was told.
He said the family also had ‘questions’ about the first admission and ‘how it is that there was a six-and-a-half week admission and no clear cause was identified’.
Kevin Campbell during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 04, 2023
Kevin Campbell holds the Coca-Cola Cup aloft after winning it with Arsenal in 1993 at Wembley
Issues included ‘what difference earlier antibiotic therapy could have made’, Mr Naughton said.
He said no electrocardiogram test was carried out on Mr Campbell’s heart during his stay at Salford Royal.
‘At the very least’ the inquest should examine why this didn’t happen and ‘whether one should have been performed’, he argued.
Mr Naughton asked the coroner to commission independent expert evidence, saying there was a risk of the Manchester trust ‘effectively marking their own homework’.
However Mr Golombek said doctors on the mortality review were sufficiently independent as all but one hadn’t been involved in Mr Campbell’s care.
Mr Naughton said Mr Campbell’s family would now consider whether to instruct a medical expert themselves.
Opening an inquest into his death last July, Mr Golombek said Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the MRI, had declared a Level 5 patient safety incident – the most serious category – about aspects of Mr Campbell’s care.
Issues which had been raised included ‘a delay in aspects of his care and diagnosis, and also concerns raised over decision-making processes with regards to the institutions of palliative care’.
Mr Campbell died at the age of 54 at Manchester Royal Infirmary (above) on June 15
Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell passed away at the age of 54
It heard Mr Campbell was admitted to Manchester Royal Infirmary on May 15.
‘He had been reported to have been fit and well until around January 2024 when he had a number of admissions to hospital before this final admission,’ Mr Golombek said on that occasion.
The coroner said Mr Campbell’s provisional cause of death was multi-organ failure as a result of infective endocarditis.
According to the NHS website, endocarditis is a rare and potentially fatal infection of the inner lining of the heart and is most commonly caused by bacteria entering the blood and travelling to the heart.
A full inquest will take place at a date to be set.
No relatives attended today’s hearings which saw lawyers participate remotely.
Arsenal posted a touching tribute to their former player at the time of his death, writing: ‘We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness.
‘Kevin was adored by everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin.’
Campbell became a cult hero on Merseyside during a six-year stay at Goodison Park from 1999-2005
Everton also confirmed the news on social media, adding their own tribute: ‘Everyone at Everton is deeply saddened by the death of our former striker Kevin Campbell at the age of just 54.
‘Not just a true Goodison Park hero and icon of the English game, but an incredible person as well – as anyone who ever met him will know. RIP, Super Kev.’
Mr Campbell spent three years at Nottingham Forest after joining them in 1995 and had a one-season stop at Trabzonspor in Turkey before moving to Everton in 1999.
He stayed at Everton until 2005, where he spent time as captain under Walter Smith, and ended his career with spells at West Brom and Cardiff.
Mr Campbell worked in the media after his playing career and was a member of the Black Footballers Partnership, which works to increase the voice and influence of black footballers.
