Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft has opened up about the loss of her husband Mel Coleman, who tragically died of stomach cancer in May 2023, just 16 weeks after his diagnosis
Annabel Croft has offered a poignant five-word statement regarding her prospects of dating after the "horrendous" passing of her husband. In a new interview, the ex-tennis ace discussed the devastating loss of her spouse, Mel Coleman, who passed away from stomach cancer in May 2023 at the age of 60.
As she navigates through her new life, the Strictly celebrity shared what she misses "most" about Mel. She confessed that her husband was her steadfast "rock" and instilled in her "huge amounts of confidence".
Speaking to Hello!, Annabel expressed: "It's been horrendous. Mel was my rock. He gave me huge amounts of confidence. I don't think I'd be who I am today without him, that's for sure. And he was so funny; his humour is what I miss the most."
However, when speaking about the topic of venturing back into the dating scene, her response was succinct: "I don't even consider it." She elaborated: "It's not something I'm thinking about at all. I'm not in that headspace – it's way too soon."
In 2023, the former British tennis number one said her time on Strictly was "bringing joy" or at least a "glimmer of it" back into her life. She added that her dance partner, Johannes Radebe, came into her life to "alleviate the pain".
Annabel, who made history as the youngest Briton to compete at Wimbledon in nearly a century at just 15 years old, clinched the junior champion title in 1984 aged 18.
At the age of 21, she encountered yachtsman Mel, leading to an opportunity to feature in a sailing programme. She reminisced: "It was the first time I'd hung out with people my age. I put normal clothes on - not tennis gear."
The TV and radio presenter added that once she met Mel, she "took strength from who he was", saying he gave her "confidence" and "taught" her how to live.
According to the NHS, stomach cancer encompasses cancer anywhere within the stomach, with its gravity dependent on factors such as size, spread, and overall patient health, though it remains relatively uncommon in the UK.
Symptoms could include heartburn, acid reflux, dysphagia, nausea, indigestion symptoms, quickly feeling full, appetite loss, a lump or pain at the top of your stomach, and fatigue.
It advised people to visit their GP if they have swallowing issues, a lump in their stomach, lose weight, have stomach cancer symptoms that worsen or don't improve after three weeks, or have a condition that causes symptoms that don't improve after three weeks of normal treatment.
You should seek advice from NHS 111 if you've been sick for more than two days or have symptoms that you're concerned about but are unsure where to obtain help.
You can learn more about stomach cancer on the NHS website here.
