Former Arsenal and Everton forward Kevin Campbell died after a rare heart infection went undiagnosed for a period of time, an inquest has revealed.
However, a coroner concluded that the delay “did not more than minimally contribute” to his death.
Campbell, who passed away at the age of 54 at Manchester Royal Infirmary in June 2024, had been in good health until early that year.
He was first admitted to hospital in January 2024, where he spent seven weeks receiving treatment for severe heart and kidney failure.
Following dialysis and medical care, he was deemed stable enough to be discharged.
During his initial hospital stay, Campbell’s weight dropped significantly — from 124kg to 98kg — but had declined further to just 59kg by the time he was readmitted on May 17.
The inquest, held in Manchester, heard from Area Coroner Zak Golombeck, who said Campbell was “very unwell” upon his return to hospital. Medical staff noted a recurrence of heart and kidney issues, along with signs of an unidentified infection.
His condition worsened over the following weeks, and by early June, tests confirmed the presence of infective endocarditis — a serious bacterial infection that attacks the inner lining of the heart.
Campbell with Wayne Rooney at Everton.
Despite ongoing treatment, Campbell succumbed to multi-organ failure. An internal hospital investigation acknowledged that the infection could have been detected sooner and that more attention should have been given to his dramatic weight loss.
However, experts told the inquest that even with an earlier diagnosis, Campbell was unlikely to have been fit enough to undergo the high-risk open-heart surgery required to treat the condition.
Delivering a verdict of death from natural causes, Coroner Golombeck said:
“Kevin died from a naturally occurring illness which, very sadly, on June 15 reached its natural end.”
Campbell, a product of Arsenal’s youth system, made his first-team debut in 1988 and enjoyed a distinguished playing career.
He won the First Division title with the Gunners in 1991, followed by the FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994.
After spells at Nottingham Forest and Turkish club Trabzonspor, Campbell joined Everton in 1999, where he became an instant fan favourite by scoring nine goals in the final eight games of the season to help the club avoid relegation.
Campbell with his sons who are now footballers.
He spent five years at Goodison Park before finishing his career with stints at West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City.
Over the course of his career, Campbell made 542 appearances and scored 148 goals. Following his retirement, he remained a familiar face in the football world as a popular media pundit.
