‘Fit and healthy’ professional wrestler, 19, dies from coronavirus

The devastated parents of a ‘fit and healthy’ teenager have told how he died just 48 hours after testing positive for coronavirus

Professional wrestler Cameron Wellington, 19, from Walsall in Birmingham, was diagnosed with Covid-19 last Tuesday. 

By Wednesday night his mother Jane had rushed him to Walsall Manor Hospital amid concerns over his rapidly declining breathing.

She dropped the teenager – known to family and friends as Cam – at the doors to A&E and promised to fetch him after he was assessed.

But an hour later the mother-of-six received a phone call from staff to say his oxygen levels had plummeted and he ‘wasn’t expected to last an hour’.

He was put on dialysis and placed in the ITU, where he fought hard for his life. Medics operated on his lungs and he was then rushed to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester for specialist care.

Cameron Wellington, 19, (pictured) from Walsall in Birmingham, died just 48 hours after testing positive for coronavirus

There, surgeons operated on his heart but shortly afterwards Cameron died – less than two days after he first tested positive for the virus.

His devastated parents Jane and Norman were by his side.

Cameron – a professional wrestler who began his training at an early age with Pro Wrestling Live – leaves behind heartbroken siblings Rebecca, Ryan, Logan, Lucy and Mia.

The family, who live in the Mossley area of Walsall, said Cameron was well-known and loved by many. As well as being a passionate wrestler he was a talented artist.

Cameron (centre) - a professional wrestler who began his training at an early age with Pro Wrestling Live - leaves behind heartbroken siblings Rebecca, Ryan, Logan, Lucy and Mia

Cameron (centre) – a professional wrestler who began his training at an early age with Pro Wrestling Live – leaves behind heartbroken siblings Rebecca, Ryan, Logan, Lucy and Mia

His parents said he had a ‘cracking career’ ahead of him – and have now urged everyone to ‘take the virus seriously’.

Devastated Jane told BirminghamLive: ‘The whole situation has come as a massive shock to us. Cam was overweight but he was fit and otherwise healthy.

‘My husband was diagnosed with Covid last Monday.

‘Both Cameron and I then developed symptoms and tested positive the following day.

‘At first Cam had a cough, but his condition quickly got worse. Cam was adamant he was fine but I could tell – the colour was draining from him.

‘I called the doctor who advised I take him to A&E at the Manor Hospital.

‘I drove him there on Wednesday evening and gave him a note to pass to the staff as, by that point, he was too breathless to speak.

‘I told him I’d see him again soon and I went home to Mossley. But within an hour I had another call – Cam’s oxygen levels had plummeted to ten per-cent. He was put on oxygen and placed into a coma in ITU.

His mother Jane had rushed her son to Walsall Manor Hospital amid concerns over his rapidly declining breathing

His mother Jane had rushed her son to Walsall Manor Hospital amid concerns over his rapidly declining breathing

‘The hospital told us they didn’t think he’d last an hour. He did – he battled back – they put him on dialysis and his oxygen levels started to pick back up. 

‘Because of his age they wanted to give him a real chance. His lungs were operated on – they were really trying to keep him alive. He was then sent up to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester for more specialist care.

‘In the early hours of Thursday he had another operation, this time on his heart.

‘At 9.20am we had a Skype call from the hospital, they showed us Cameron on the screen and advised us to head up to the hospital.

‘They allowed us to go in and sit with him. We had to wear protective suits, masks, hats, gloves and vizors. We spent a few hours with him before he passed away at 2.50pm.’

Jane added: ‘We as a family are totally heartbroken and yet immensely proud of him. He put up a massive fight. Before lockdown he was in talks to travel to Japan for his wrestling.

‘He had a cracking career ahead of him and he was a hugely talented artist. He was good at every single thing he turned his hand to.

‘We as a family are now coming to terms with what happened.’ 

Cameron was a former student of Wednesfield High School and Jubilee Academy in Mossley.

His father Norman said: ‘He was a bubbly, bright, happy person. Everyone warmed to him. He loved wrestling with a passion.

‘He started doing it when he was 12 or 13 so quite a few years ago. He worked his way up through the junior class and into the senior class. I just want him back.’

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for Cameron’s funeral at https://www.gofundme.com/f/cameron-wellington039s.