Ex-Chelsea star’s son dies during UAE desert hike

The son of former Chelsea midfielder Eddie Newton has died from heat-related complications during a desert hike in the United Arab Emirates, an inquest has heard.

Cassius Newton, 34, was found dead alongside his friend, Aran Martinson, in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region of the UAE on July 18, after the pair set out on a hike despite warnings about the extreme heat.

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Essex Coroner’s Court heard that Newton had called his wife at about 02:00 to inform her of their plans, but she urged him not to go because of the high temperatures.

Area coroner Michelle Brown said temperatures in the region could reach 40C, with conditions feeling even hotter inside 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.

The coroner also noted that Newton had been out the previous night and may not have had enough sleep or adequately charged his phone before setting off.

The two men began the hike at about 07:00 local time. Their wives contacted authorities after they failed to hear from them for several hours, prompting a rescue operation.

Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from where they had parked their vehicle, approximately 350 metres apart. Both men were found lying on their backs among 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”.

The court heard that the route was a recreational hike that required no specialist equipment and would normally take around four hours to complete.

Messages exchanged between Martinson and his wife were also presented during the inquest. At 09:26, she sent him a message saying, “You must be cooking.”

After receiving no response for several hours, she later sent another message expressing her growing concern.

Brown concluded that both men died after severe increases in their body temperatures caused 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.

His father, Eddie Newton, played for Chelsea before going on to serve two spells as an assistant manager at the club. He travelled to the UAE to identify his son’s body.

Chelsea expressed sadness over Cassius Newton’s death, while Martinson’s wife paid tribute to her husband in an online post, describing him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”.