Kevin Campbell: Concerns raised over former Arsenal striker’s hospital care before he died

A major safety incident has been reported regarding the hospital care received by the former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell prior to his death, an inquest has heard.

Campbell, who also played for Nottingham Forest, died aged 54 at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) on June 15 after being admitted exactly a month earlier.

Coroner Zak Golombek said Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospital, had declared a Level 5 patient safety incident – the most serious category – in relation to Campbell.

Golombek said it was regarding a delay in aspects of Campbell’s care and diagnosis, and concerns over decision-making processes about palliative care.

He said the trust was conducting internal investigations and there would be extra evidence, including the investigation report, witness statements from clinicians and a statement from Campbell’s next of kin.

No family members were present at Manchester Coroner’s Court as Golombek outlined background details during Thursday’s inquest opening.

Campbell reportedly suffered a stroke a few months prior to his death and went on to develop kidney failure, with his weight said to have dropped to nine stone by the time he passed away.

Golombek said provisional cause of death given for Campbell was multi-organ failure due to a heart infection.

“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,” the coroner said.

“I have also received notification from the trust that a medical cause of death can be offered and, therefore, I will consider evidence from the clinicians involved in Mr Campbell’s care as to the cause of his death.

“The provisional cause of death, as it stands, refers to Mr Campbell dying from multi-organ failure as a result of infective endocarditis.”

He said final determinations on the medical cause of death and the care received by Campbell “will be made as part of the inquest process”.

Proceedings were adjourned for a hearing at a later date.

Campbell’s 24-year-old son Tyrese, who was recently released by Stoke City, posted on X at the time of his father’s death that “the pain of this is indescribable and, as a son, you look at your dad as invincible”.

“He was the life and soul of every party and room he blessed, a one-in-a-million person that was loved by everyone.”

Tributes flooded in across the game to Campbell, who was a key figure in Arsenal being crowned champions of England in 1991 and went on to help them win the domestic cup double in 1993 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following year under George Graham.

Campbell’s former Arsenal team-mate Ian Wright posted a series of crying emojis along with photographs of the pair together.

Wright later appeared on ITV for their coverage of the European Championship match between Spain and Croatia and said: “I can’t really go too deep into it because it’s very fresh.

“My best wishes and condolences go to his family. It’s too soon for me to talk about it and, if I start to talk about it, I start to well up. He meant the whole world to a lot of people.”