THE family of a Bolton teenager who tragically died from septicemia has passed on a message of support to Colin Hendry and his family.

The soccer star's wife, Denise, is still seriously ill at the Royal Preston Hospital after developing the blood infection following cosmetic surgery.

Ruth Fletcher, of Stapleton Avenue, Heaton, lost her older sister, Anne, last year. She died from septicemia and renal failure in September after being admitted to hospital on her 18th birthday.

She had been admitted with flu-like symptoms seven days earlier. After her condition deteriorated, the teenager was transferred to the intensive care unit but died on September 4.

Anne had recently left Rivington and Blackrod Sixth Form College and had been accepted at St Andrews University in Scotland where she was planning to study maths.

Ruth, aged 16, said there needed to be more awareness about the symptoms of septicemia.

She said: "I know what Colin Hendry is going through. I really feel for him because I know how horrible it was seeing my sister in the intensive care unit.

"My thoughts and prayers are with him at this time and I hope Denise pulls through.

"It was very frustrating when my sister first fell ill because we didn't know what was wrong with her. Anne suffered from eczema and it is believed that an infection spread to her blood.

"If we had known what was wrong with her earlier, she might have been saved."

Colin Hendry's Wanderers' team mates have sent a public message of support to the Scotland international, whose wife is still fighting for her life.

Team spokesman Mike Whitlow said: "All our thoughts are with Big Colin and his family at this very difficult time. We want Colin to know that everyone is rooting for Denise."