Mel Coleman: Annabel Croft Husband Death And Courage Amidst The Loss
Mel Coleman wasn’t a household name to most, but to those who knew him — especially his wife, former British tennis star Annabel Croft — he was everything. A former professional yachtsman who competed in events like the America’s Cup, Mel made a quiet but lasting mark both on the water and in his life beyond it. He didn’t chase the spotlight. If anything, he preferred a peaceful, private life — focused on family, purpose, and the things that truly mattered.
A Love Story That Started With The Sea
Mel Coleman met Annabel Croft in 1987 while teaching her how to sail — a chance meeting that turned into something much deeper. They married in 1993 and built a beautiful life together, raising three children and even launching a tennis academy as a shared passion project in 2009. Theirs was a partnership that blended love, business, family, and adventure.
But in 2023, that life took a devastating turn.
A Sudden And Shocking Loss
Earlier that year, Mel Coleman started having stomach pains — nothing too alarming at first. But within weeks, doctors diagnosed him with stage three colon cancer. Just 16 weeks later, he was gone. The illness moved frighteningly fast, and the diagnosis came far too late.
Annabel later opened up about how surreal and traumatic it was to watch the man she loved slip away so suddenly. In his final hours, as he drifted between consciousness and sleep, Mel began to give quiet instructions — practical things like “change the tyre on the van” — and emotional ones too. “Sorry I can’t be there for your weddings,” he told their children.
Annabel said those words broke her heart. She has flashbacks of that day — memories that are hard to sit with, even now.
A Trip To Portugal That Changed Everything
Hoping for a bit of rest and recovery, the couple traveled to Portugal shortly before his death. Annabel believes the trip may have worsened his condition. Mel Coleman developed a perforated bowel and sepsis, and just three weeks later, he passed away.
It was sudden. It was cruel. It didn’t feel real.
Living Through Grief, One Day At A Time
Annabel has spoken openly about how strange and painful the aftermath has been. “At first it didn’t feel real — like he was just away on a trip and would come back any day,” she said. “But now the grief feels heavier. It’s growing, not fading. The finality of it is just starting to sink in.”
She describes her grief as something that sneaks up on her — that even when she’s busy or working, it’s always there, just beneath the surface.
Their Family And Shared Passion
Mel Coleman and Annabel Croft shared a life full of love and purpose, raising three children: Amber Rose, 29, Charlie, 28, and Lily, 25. They lived in Coombe, near Wimbledon, and in 2009, co-founded the Annabel Croft Tennis Academy at the National Tennis Centre in London. Mel ran much of the academy’s operations and often accompanied Annabel on TV or corporate events.
The academy, which now trains over 350 players weekly, follows a hands-on, movement-driven philosophy. In 2013, they expanded to Portugal — a place that would become a bittersweet part of their story.
Coping Through Movement And Momentum
In the months following Mel Coleman’s death, Annabel didn’t retreat into stillness. She leaned into movement — something Mel himself believed in. She joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, partnered with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, and ended up finishing fourth.
Mel had always loved watching Strictly. “He’d cry watching it,” Annabel said. “I’m completely heartbroken he’s not here to see me dance.”
Dancing wasn’t an escape, exactly — but it was something. A way to stay afloat. A way to keep going.
Returning To Wimbledon, 14 Months Later
Just over a year after Mel’s death, Annabel returned to Wimbledon in 2024. It was one of her most public roles yet since his passing, taking on major duties including on-court interviews with tennis greats like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
Behind the scenes, she was still struggling. “I cried every day,” she admitted. “Sometimes even backstage before going on air. But when the camera came on, something clicked. It gave my mind a break from the grief.”
Fans were moved by her strength and composure, and many called her a natural successor to Clare Balding as the BBC’s lead host for Wimbledon. But for Annabel, just showing up and doing the job was a win in itself.
Honoring Mel Coleman’s Memory With Purpose
In early 2025, Annabel announced the launch of the Mel Coleman Sailing Scholarship. Aimed at supporting young sailors who lack the resources to pursue competitive training. “Mel believed in quiet encouragement,” she said. “This is my way of letting his support ripple out into the world.” The initiative has already garnered backing from several maritime organizations. It is expected to award its first recipients later this year.
Mel Coleman’s Legacy Lives On
Mel Coleman didn’t need headlines to leave a legacy. He left it in the way he lived: steady, supportive, and quietly brilliant. He helped build a family, a business, and a life full of love. And even in his final days, he was thinking about others — giving instructions, saying goodbye, trying to make things easier for the people he loved most.
Annabel continues to carry that legacy forward — on the court, on camera, and in life.
She once said she’d rather stay busy than wallow — not because she doesn’t feel the pain, but because Mel wouldn’t have wanted her to stop moving.
And so she moves. One day at a time.
