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Mel Coleman Death Cause: Sudden Death After Stage 3 Cancer Diagnoses. Agony for former tennis star Annabel Croft as her husband Mel Coleman dies suddenly just weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer
Mel Coleman Death Cause: Sudden Death After Stage 3 Cancer Diagnoses
Annabel Croft, a former tennis pro, has been saddened by her husband’s unexpected death, which occurred just a few weeks after he received a cancer diagnosis.
In 1992, broadcaster Ms. Croft, then 56, wed former professional sailor Mel Coleman.
Mr. Coleman first complained of stomach pain around eight weeks ago, at which point a stage three cancer diagnosis was made. He passed away this week, at the age of 60.
The successful investment banker Mr. Coleman, who participated in the America’s Cup and more recently co-ran a tennis academy with his wife, was renowned for his supposedly excellent health and, like Ms. Croft, loved an active outdoor lifestyle.
After Covid lockdowns, the two of them converted an old delivery van into a mobile home and took it around the country and into Europe on walking holidays.
Last night, Ms Croft said: ‘My beloved husband Mel passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning after a short battle with cancer. My family and I are completely heartbroken and ask for privacy at this very sad time.’
Broadcaster Annabel Croft, 56, married former professional yachtsman Mel Coleman in 1992. Pictured together in 2021
Around eight weeks ago after complaining of stomach pain, Mr Coleman was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. He died earlier this week, aged 60. Pictured together in 1996
Mr Coleman, a successful investment banker who took part in America’s Cup and more recently ran a tennis school with his wife, was noted for his apparently perfect health and, like Ms Croft, enjoyed an active outdoors lifestyle. Pictured when they were engaged
Earlier this year Ms Croft, a former British number one, recalled that her path crossed with Mr Coleman’s quite by chance when she was at a crisis point. Pictured: At Wimbledon in 1987
A friend said: ‘This has come as an extreme shock to everyone – the diagnosis was out of the blue and Mel did not seem unwell at the time.
‘Sadly the cancer progressed brutally… and he passed earlier this week. Everyone is devastated and horrified, and Annabel is absolutely shattered.
‘The two of them have been together forever and were a wonderful couple.’
They have three grown-up children Charlie, Amber and Lilly.
The pair met just before Ms Croft quit the tennis tour and he was her first serious boyfriend.
Ms. Croft, a former British number one, described earlier this year how, just by accident, Mr. Coleman’s path intersected with hers while she was in a difficult situation.
She was 21 years old and receiving encouragement from fellow competitor John Newcombe at the US Open. He advised her to consider her career options because she appeared dissatisfied. She had been playing tennis professionally for almost six years, but the demands of constant competition had left her feeling lonely, anxious, and lost.
As we were having this conversation, my mother texted me to ask whether I would be interested in filming a program about yacht racing for the BBC in Belfast.
They have three grown-up children Charlie, Amber and Lilly. PicturedL On the site where their new home was being built in 2004
The pair met just before Ms Croft quit the tennis tour and he was her first serious boyfriend. Pictured in 2022
Aged 21, she was at the US Open having a pep talk from fellow player John Newcombe, who suggested that she should think about what she wanted to do with her life as she seemed unhappy. Pictured: In action at the Eastbourne International tennis tournament at Devonshire Park, 1985
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Ms. Croft has been a staple of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage for many years, and she also covers tennis competitions all over the world. In Coombe, Surrey, close to Wimbledon, the family resides. taken in 1987
I had never been on a yacht before, but I ended up traveling to Guernsey with Eamonn Holmes and Peter Skellern to film a show in which we discovered how to sail.
Mel, one of the yachtsmen, had recently returned from Australia after competing in the America’s Cup.
‘After a day’s filming we’d all go to the pub, have dinner – it sounds weird, but I’d never really done that – and I remember thinking, gosh this is really fun and normal, and I want a bit more of this rather than getting up and putting on a tracksuit and stressing about whether my backhand is working today.’
They married six years later.
Ms. Croft has long been a fixture in the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage and also covers tennis tournaments around the world. The family lives in Coombe, Surrey, near Wimbledon.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, she spoke about her excitement at the prospect of going traveling with her husband in their van post-lockdown.
She said: ‘I think we will be OK, given how long we have been together. It’s about the freedom and the sense of adventure.’
