Footballer's mother 'nearly died' after routine cosmetic surgery

Sue Terry, 48, suffered a heart attack as she was coming around from surgery and rushed to intensive care in an NHS hospital.

She is recovering at home over Christmas with her Premiership football star son by her side. Meanwhile the anaesthetist who cared for her during the operation is under investigation by the General Medical Council.

It emerged yesterday that Dr Ahmed Moustafa is being investigated over the "unexplained death" in May of another of his patients.

The footballer's mother had to be resuscitated after treatment at the private Highgate Hospital in North London at the end of November.

Her son and other relatives rushed to her bedside as doctors fought to save her life. Dr Moustafa, 68, was suspended from practice last Tuesday for the next 18 months by the General Medical Council, which will investigate his fitness to be a doctor.

Last night, questions were being raised over whether he should still have been working at all.

Executives at Highgate had been warned about him a year ago, but continued to employ him, it was revealed yesterday.

The alarm was first raised over Dr Moustafa after Kelly McCure, 32, suffered a heart attack after surgery at the private Belvedere Hospital in South East London in November 2005.

Mrs McCure, from Market Harborough, Leicestershire, was revived several times but lapsed into a coma after the seizure and never recovered.

She died in May after doctors turned off her life support machine. An inquest has been opened by a coroner, who has instructed the Metropolitan Police to investigate her death.

Last night Richard Tickle, chief executive at the Belvedere, said: "The minute we discovered there had been a tragic incident involving this young lady we called in the Healthcare Commission to investigate.

"After our investigation we took the unusual step of permanently banning Dr Moustafa from working at our hospital.

"We warned the Highgate and told the GMC of our concerns."

In July, the consultant was also suspended by the Portland Hospital in central London after claims of another error.

A spokesman said: "He was about to start an operation without having turned on the gas used to keep a patient pain-free during surgery. Fortunately his mistake was spotted."

The Highgate Hospital, where the footballer's mother was being treated, did not take immediate action, but suspended Dr Moustafa 10 days ago, just before the GMC suspension.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "We were informed by the Belvedere, but we took our own decision."

Last night a spokesman for the GMC said: "We were aware of the incident last year but I cannot give you a reason why we waited to suspend Dr Moustafa.

"He has been suspended from practising as a doctor for 18 months while we carry out investigations."

It is understood Mrs Terry had reported chest pains prior to the operation, but the anaesthetist decided surgery could still go ahead.

The footballer rushed to his mother's bedside after he was informed of the heart attack last month.

She was able to chat with her family following the seizure and later allowed to return home.

A source close to the family said: "Her son was in pieces when it happened, but she seems to be making a good recovery."