Footballer Colin Hendry said that the “light had gone out” in his life after his wife died following a botched cosmetic surgery operation seven years ago.

Denise Hendry, 43, died in hospital from a post-operative infection after spending the last 12 weeks in intensive care at Salford Royal Hospital.

The mother-of-four contracted the infection following surgery at the hospital, one of a series of operations undergone to try to repair the damage done by the disastrous liposuction procedure in 2002.

“Words cannot describe the desolation we feel,” her husband, the former Manchester City star and Scotland captain, said.

“Denise was the shining light in our lives and today that light has gone out. She had battled bravely after her liposuction procedure had gone appallingly wrong.

“Further corrective surgery in Preston Infirmary had not been successful and we were hopeful the operation she went in to Salford Royal for would be a success. Tragically she caught an infection which despite further surgery she has succumbed to.

"I cannot begin to imagine life without her, but we are a strong and devoted family and somehow, if only for Denise's sake, we will get through.

“At this very emotional time I would ask that our privacy is respected and we are given time to grieve.”

The couple had been together for more than 20 years and had four children together: Rheagan, Kyle, Calum and Niamh - aged between 19 and nine.

Denise suffered health problems since having surgery seven years ago to try to regain her figure after the birth of her youngest child.

Denise contracted a serious, meningitis-type infection after the corrective surgery on her abdomen but had shown slow signs of recovery, regaining consciousness and starting to communicate with her family last month.

However her condition had deteriorated over recent days.

Denise had suffered health problems since undergoing liposuction in 2002.

The operation at the private Broughton Park Hospital, near Preston, went badly wrong and her bowel and colon were perforated nine times during the procedure.

She was in a coma for five weeks after the operation and never completely recovered. It left Denise needing daily care and medication.

She won a record six-figure negligence settlement and was one of a number of women to complain about disgraced cosmetic surgeon Gustav Aniansson to the General Medical Council.

Since Denise’s operation Swedish-born Mr Aniansson asked for his name to be removed from the GMC register, meaning he can no longer practise in Britain.