Former Chelsea Player's Son Dies on Hike in UAE

The son of ex-Chelsea midfielder Eddie Newton has died during a desert hike in the United Arab Emirates. This happened despite his wife telling him not to go, as an inquest revealed.

Cassius Newton, 34, was found dead in the Wadi Naqab area of the UAE on July 18. This was just hours after he last spoke to his wife. His friend, Aran Martinson, also died during the hike.

The Essex Coroner’s Court heard that Newton called his wife around 02:00 to share their plans. However, she urged him not to go because of the extreme heat.

Coroner Michelle Brown said temperatures could hit about 40C in that area. The heat in the canyons makes it feel even hotter. "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 explained.

The coroner pointed out that Newton had been out the night before. It is possible he did not get enough sleep or charge his phone properly. Rescue efforts began when the wives of both men contacted authorities after they did not hear from them for several hours.

The bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their parked vehicle. They were found about 350 metres apart, lying on their backs among large rocks. The bodies were taken to a hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, where they were pronounced dead.

Brown ruled that the deaths were due to misadventure. She described the situation as "an intentional trip with unintended consequences." She mentioned that the route was a regular hike that needed no special gear and usually takes about four hours.

Text messages between Martinson and his wife were presented in court. At 09:26, she messaged him: "You must be cooking." After hours without a reply, she later texted: "[You are] actually trying to tip me over the edge I swear."

Brown concluded both men died from severe heat, leading to organ failure. Newton, originally from Poole, had recently moved to Ras Al Khaimah with his wife. Martinson had also just relocated to the UAE.

Eddie Newton, who played for Chelsea and had two stints as the club’s assistant manager, traveled to the UAE to identify his son’s body. Chelsea expressed that it was "devastated" by the news of Cassius Newton’s death.

Martinson’s wife honored her husband online, calling him "incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious."