Former tennis star and BBC Wimbledon presenter Annabel Croft has spoken candidly about the distressing moments leading up to her husband's death, describing a nurse who she says mocked her family as they gathered to say goodbye.
Nurse Accused of Mocking Dying Patient
In 2023, the former Wimbledon champion, whose husband Mel Coleman succumbed to colon cancer aged 60 in May 2023, previously described being 'haunted' by her encounter with a particularly 'cruel' nurse. Annabel, who has been transparent about her relationship, became tearful as she recounted the medical professional seemingly making light of her husband's worsening condition.
While she recognised that many of the nurses who looked after Mel during his final days were 'angels', she criticised one woman for her 'mocking' demeanour as she and her children Amber, Charlie and Lily gathered round to say goodbye to their father. 'I've asked myself, since, if she was a psychopath,' she told MailOnline. 'It felt like it because she seemed to take pleasure in telling Mel he was dying.'
Family's Final Moments Marred
Annabel recounted how the nurse insisted on telling Mel directly about his prognosis, despite her requests for privacy. 'When she started to talk like that, I said: "Can you please come over here and talk to me privately first. I don't want him to hear this." But she said: "No, he is the patient. He has to hear that he is dying."'
The situation escalated when the nurse began discussing palliative care. 'Charlie asked her: "What does that mean? Does he have months, weeks?" She said: "Huh!" Almost laughing, mocking our son. "No - hours." Mel heard that, all of it. It was just awful.'
Annabel disclosed that Mel had made his wishes unequivocally clear — he did not want a do-not-resuscitate order placed on him, a stance she wholeheartedly backed. 'This nurse said: "Listen to me. He's got cancer. We are not resuscitating him." Like she was enjoying it. I'm haunted by that. So many nights it has kept me awake, remembering the tone of her voice. It was cruel.'
Devastating Bereavement
The bereavement proved utterly devastating for Mel's family, arriving just 16 weeks after the healthy former round-the-world yachtsman had received his cancer diagnosis. Annabel, who has been forthright about her life beyond the court, continues to speak openly about the difficult experience her family faced following the death of her husband.
