Cosmetic surgery 'nearly killed' ex-Premiership footballer's wife

The wife of former Blackburn Rovers footballer Colin Hendry has won a six-figure settlement after botched cosmetic surgery at a Lancashire hospital nearly killed her.

Denise Hendry was in intensive care for nearly two months following the operation at the private Broughton Park Hospital near Preston in 2002.

She suffered nine punctures to her bowel and colon during the £2,400 liposuction procedure.

Her injuries caused blood poisoning which led to multi-organ failure, including a cardiac arrest which stopped her heart for four minutes.

Ex-Scotland captain and Rovers defender Hendry kept a bedside vigil at Royal Preston Hospital during her fight for life and had to tell their four children that their mother might die.

The 40-year-old recovered from her injuries and later pursued a damages claims against cosmetic surgeon Dr Gustaf Aniansson.

Her solicitors, Manchester-based Pannone, said Mrs Hendry had been awarded an undisclosed six-figure amount.

Dr Aniansson no longer works in the UK after he successfully applied for voluntary erasure from the General Medical Council's register but he is free to operate abroad.

In a statement, Mrs Hendry said: "I am very pleased that my case has been concluded so that I can now move on.

"I brought this claim to highlight the dangers of cosmetic surgery and would urge anyone thinking of having such treatment to check their surgeon out as my experience shows there are individuals out there who cannot be considered competent."