Agony for ex-tennis star Annabel Croft as husband dies

2023-05-26

Agony for former tennis star Annabel Croft as her husband Mel Coleman dies suddenly just weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer

Mel Coleman was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer eight weeks ago
Former tennis ace Annabel Croft married former professional yachtsman in 1992
Successful investment banker who took part in America’s Cup, he died aged 60

Former tennis star Annabel Croft has been left devastated by the sudden death of her husband, a few weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Broadcaster Ms Croft, 56, married former professional yachtsman Mel Coleman in 1992.

Around eight weeks ago after complaining of stomach pain, Mr Coleman was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. He died earlier this week, aged 60.

Mr Coleman, a successful investment banker who took part in the 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. 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

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.

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.

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. She had been on the tennis tour for nearly six years and was lonely, stressed and lost by the demands of incessantly competing.

‘As we were having this chat, I got a text from my mother saying the BBC production office in Belfast were asking whether I’d be interested in filming a programme about yacht racing.

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

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 to Wimbledon. Pictured in 1987

‘I’d never been on a yacht before, but it ended up with me, Eamonn Holmes and Peter Skellern going off to Guernsey to shoot a programme where we learnt how to race a yacht.

‘Mel, who had just got back from Australia after the America’s Cup, was one of the yachtsmen and that is how we met.

‘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 to Wimbledon.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mail she spoke about her excitement at the prospect of going travelling 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.’

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