- Joined
- Oct 7, 2008
- Messages
- 61,301
- Location
- Bulgaria
The son-in-law of TV presenter and former footballer Bob Wilson has died in a freak tragedy after apparently contracting blood poisoning when he stepped on a sea urchin while on holiday.
Mitchell Carey is understood to have begun complaining of stomach pains shortly after returning from Greece, before his condition deteriorated sharply.
Last night his father-in-law, the former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper, was said to be heartbroken.
Mr Carey, a 44-year-old graphic designer, was the widower of Mr Wilson’s daughter Anna, who also died tragically young, succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 1998 aged just 31.
He was away with his second wife, Deborah Smith, when he accidentally stepped on the urchin, a spiny marine creature common in the Mediterranean.
Soon after he returned home last weekend, his foot became swollen ukand he began to suffer severe stomachpains. He went to hospital but was sent away after being told by doctors he had food poisoning.
By Monday, however, Mr Carey’s condition had worsened and his family called 999.
Paramedics realised he was suffering from acute blood poisoning and took him to casualty – but he had a heart attack in the ambulance.
He was pronounced dead at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, Hertfordshire – the same hospital where Anna died and also where she had worked as a nurse.
The family are now waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination.
While some species of sea urchin are poisonous, experts warn that even the spines of non-venomous types contain bacteria which can be harmful if it ends up in the blood.
Speaking last night at his home in Dorset, Mr Wilson, 68, paid tribute to his son-in-law, saying: ‘We loved him dearly.’
He added that he did not feel it was right to comment further ‘out of respect for Mitchell’s family’.
A family friend told the Daily Mail that the ex-footballer – who has enjoyed a successful career as a TV presenter and pundit since retiring as a player in 1974 – had remained close to Mr Carey.
‘He is heartbroken about Mitchell’s death and cannot believe that tragedy has struck again,’ the friend said. ‘It is like there is a curse on the family.’
Mr Wilson and his wife, Megs, were said to have been ‘accepting’ when, in 2004, Mr Carey married Miss Smith, a close friend of Anna.
‘They were pleased that Mitchell had found love again,’ the friend said. ‘They respected all the support and love he gave Anna.’
Miss Smith last night spoke only briefly from the detached home she shared with her husband in the village of Knebworth, Hertfordshire.
‘We have suffered a terrible loss,’ she said. ‘We really don’t fully understand what has happened and we won’t know until we have the results of the post-mortem.’
Mr Carey had married Anna Wilson in 1992. The pair were still newlyweds when Anna – then 26 – was diagnosed with malignant schwannoma, a rare and virulent form of cancer which caused a cricket ball-sized tumour to grow in her chest.
After Anna died, her parents set up the Willow charity in her memory, which has raised millions for cancer research.
Mr Wilson revealed that Anna had implored her family to get on with their lives after she passed away.
In a letter written shortly before her death, she told them: ‘Don’t let this ruin your lives. I’ll be watching you.’
Mr Wilson said: ‘So many things have happened since her death that we honestly believe that.’
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust confirmed yesterday it was investigating the death.
But a spokesman said: ‘It does appear that Mr Carey was given the appropriate course of treatment while at our A&E department.
‘Sadly his condition worsened dramatically and on his admission, staff at the Lister hospital did everything they could to save his life.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...son-law-Mitchell-Carey-killed-sea-urchin.html
