Eddie Newton's son dies during 40C desert hike in UAE despite wife's plea

The son of former Chelsea midfielder and assistant manager Eddie Newton has died during a fatal desert hike in the United Arab Emirates, an inquest has heard.

Cassius Newton, 34, was found dead in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region on July 18, hours after he last spoke with his wife. His friend, Aran Martinson, from Bishops Stortford, also died after the pair set off at about 07:00 local time.

In Essex Coroner's Court, Michelle Brown stated that Cassius, who hailed from Poole, had called his wife at about 02:00 to tell her about their plans. "He told her he was going, but she asked him not to because she knew it would be very hot," added Brown, noting that the temperature would be 40C (104F), which would feel even hotter in the canyons.

Michelle Brown also indicated that Cassius had been out the previous night and thus did not get sufficient sleep or charge his mobile. Both men's wives contacted rescue teams since they did not receive any contact from them for several hours. The bodies were located about 3 to 4 kilometers from where they parked, and they were 350 meters away from each other.

Both men died from severe rising body temperatures leading to organ failure. Eddie flew to the UAE to identify his son’s body. Chelsea said it was “devastating” to learn of Cassius’s death. Martinson’s wife paid tribute to her husband, describing him as “incredibly driven, hardworking, and ambitious.”