Wife of ex-Scotland footballer Colin Hendry dies

Published on Friday 10 July 2009 16:02

THE wife of former Scotland captain Colin Hendry has died seven years after undergoing botched cosmetic surgery, sources said today.

Denise Hendry, 42, had been in intensive care at Salford Royal Hospital for several weeks suffering from a serious infection after undergoing an operation to correct the surgery.

Hendry, 43, the ex-Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Rangers central defender, had been at her bedside throughout the ordeal.

His wife almost died in 2002 and suffered multiple complications after a liposuction procedure at a private hospital went badly wrong.

The Hendrys, who had been together for more than 20 years, have four children – Rheagan, Kyle, Calum and Niamh, aged between 19 and nine.

Mrs Hendry, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, wanted to try to regain her figure after the birth of her youngest child but fell ill just two days after cosmetic surgery and required treatment for septicaemia at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Her heart also stopped for four minutes as she suffered a cardiac arrest following the botched operation.

Mrs Hendry suffered nine punctures to her bowel and colon, causing blood poisoning and multiple organ failure, and needed a 16-hour operation in May as part of the long recovery process.

However, it is understood she suffered a meningitis-type infection as a result of the latest operation and was in intensive care at Salford Royal Hospital.

Her specialist, Professor Gordon Carlson, was treating her in the unit of the National Intestinal Failure Centre based at the hospital.

Hendry spoke about his wife's health in May, saying: "Denise has shown some signs of improvement over the last few days.

"She's a real fighter and I believe that, if anyone can come through an ordeal like this, it's Denise.

"I spend every day at her bedside and it's encouraging to see the progress she is making, although there is still a long way to go."

Swedish cosmetic surgeon Gustav Aniansson carried out the liposuction at the private Broughton Park Hospital in Preston, Lancashire, in April 2002.

Lawyers later secured a six-figure damages settlement in November 2006, while Dr Aniansson voluntarily applied to be removed from the General Medical Council's register.

Hendry added: "It's easy to look back now and say how we wish she hadn't gone to Aniansson, but she did and we're having to live with the awful consequences of that man's negligence.

"The operation he undertook went dreadfully wrong and Denise nearly died."

Further corrective surgery at Preston Royal Infirmary was not successful and his wife had to have further treatment at Salford Royal.

The family's lawyer, Stephen Jones, an expert in clinical negligence cases with Manchester law firm Pannone, said: "I was obviously most concerned when Colin told me of Denise's ongoing problems.

"She has been through an awful lot over the years as a direct result of Mr Aniansson's negligent surgery back in 2002 and has had to undergo numerous remedial operations since.

"Her admission to Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust was due to problems from one of those operations."

Hendry, from Keith, Morayshire, played 51 times for Scotland and captained his country at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith said today: "This is devastating news for Colin and his family. The thoughts of everyone at the Scottish FA and, I am sure, everyone associated with the game here in Scotland are with them at this tragic time."

The central defender started his professional career with Dundee in 1983.

He later played for Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City, before moving back to Blackburn in the early '90s.

Hendry helped Rovers win the English Premier League title in the 1993/94 season.

Four years later he moved back to Scotland to join Rangers, where he won a league and cup double.

He returned to England with Coventry City in February 2000.

At Hendry's first football club, his home-town side of Keith FC, staff spoke of their shock.

Alex Rutherford, honorary president of the Highland League outfit, said: "This will come as a great shock to everyone at the club.

"I spoke to Colin's mother recently, and it looked like she (Denise) was improving slightly, but this is just very sad.

"I was here at the club when Colin was a youngster, and he is still very well thought of by a lot of people here.

"I know that, like me, they will want to pass on their condolences to the family."

Blackburn Rovers managing director Tom Finn said: "Everyone connected with the club is deeply saddened by the news of Denise's passing.

"It is tragic that someone so young should be taken from us in this way and it goes without saying that our thoughts are very much with Colin and his family at this deeply distressing time."