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Colin Hendry's wife dies of botched cosmetic surgery
10 Jul 2009A footballer's wife who never fully recovered after undergoing botched cosmetic surgery in 2002 has died, sources said today.
Denise Hendry, 42, the wife of former Scotland captain Colin Hendry, 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 seven years ago 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."
Reader views (2)
Very sad news indeed. Thoughts and condolences to the Hendry family and their friends.
- Nowan King, London, 10/07/2009 17:19
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How sad, my thoughts go out to the Hendry family.
- David Crocket, Bradford , UK., 10/07/2009 16:49
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