Ex-Chelsea star’s son dies during desert hike in UAE - Punch Newspapers
Chelsea FC A black and white image of Cassius Newton, who has short, curly hair and is wearing a suit.Chelsea FC Cassius Newton was the son of former Chelsea player Eddie Newton Photo: Chelsea FC
The son of former Chelsea midfielder Eddie Newton has died after embarking on a desert hike in the United Arab Emirates despite his wife’s pleas not to go, an inquest has heard. As reported by the BBC News on Friday, Cassius Newton, 34, was found dead in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region of the UAE on July 18, hours after he last spoke with his wife. His friend, Aran Martinson, also died after the pair set out on the hike at about 07:00 local time. Essex Coroner’s Court heard that Newton had called his wife at around 02:00 to inform her of their plans, but she urged him not to go because of the extreme heat. Area coroner Michelle Brown said temperatures in the area could reach about 40C, with conditions feeling even hotter in the canyons. “She knew it would be very hot and it can get to about 40C, and the feeling is higher because it’s in the canyons,” Brown said.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google The coroner also noted that Newton had been out the previous night and might not have had enough sleep or charged his phone sufficiently. Rescue efforts were launched after the wives of both men contacted authorities when they failed to hear from them for several hours. The bodies were found between 3km and 4km from where the men had parked their vehicle, with the two bodies lying about 350 metres apart. Both men were found on their backs surrounded by large rocks and were taken to a hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, where they were later pronounced dead. Brown ruled that the deaths were the result of misadventure, describing the incident as “an intentional trip with unintended consequences.” She said the route was a recreational hike that required no specialist equipment and would normally take about four hours. Text messages exchanged between Martinson and his wife were also presented to the court. At 09:26, she messaged him: “You must be cooking.” After receiving no response for several hours, she later wrote: “\[You are\] actually trying to tip me over the edge I swear.” Brown concluded that both men died from severe increases in body temperature, which resulted in organ failure. Newton, who was originally from Poole, had recently moved to Ras Al Khaimah, where he lived with his wife. Martinson had also recently relocated to the UAE. Eddie Newton, who played for Chelsea and later had two spells as the club’s assistant manager, travelled to the UAE to identify his son’s body. Chelsea said it was “devastated” by Cassius Newton’s death. Martinson’s wife paid tribute to her husband online, describing him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious.” Gilbert Ekugbe Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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