Rachel Hyman is calling for more warnings on blood thinners (Image: Rachel Hyman/SWNS)
A coroner has issued an urgent warning regarding blood-thinning medication following the death of a prominent finance executive – with his widow stating he « could have been saved ». Clive Hyman, 64, had been in relatively good health, regularly attending the gym and playing cricket, when he unexpectedly passed away last year.
The corporate finance specialist, who became the youngest ever partner at KPMG, suffered a « minor » tumble on marble steps in Bucharest, Romania, and had reportedly felt « fine » afterwards. However, nine days later Clive, from London, died in hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
He had been taking the blood-thinning medication apixaban due to cardiac issues, which can lead to cerebral bleeding following head trauma. Yet, during an inquest at Poplar Coroner’s Court last month, Assistant Coroner Sarah Bourke discovered that information leaflets for the medication provided no guidance on appropriate action following a head injury.
The prevention of future deaths report stated: « None of the patient information leaflets that I reviewed expressly addressed the steps to be taken by a patient if they sustain trauma to the head. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. »
Clive experienced his fall on August 1, 2025, whilst on the telephone, but had informed his work colleague that he felt « fine », the inquest was told. His widow Rachel Hyman revealed that he developed a severe headache five days afterwards and she contacted emergency services, but was informed it was a non-emergency situation, so he took some paracetamol and retired to bed.
Clive and Rachel Hyman (Image: Rachel Hyman/SWNS)
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That afternoon Clive started vomiting, experienced elevated blood pressure and became unresponsive, prompting an ambulance call-out, which revealed he had suffered a left-sided subdural haemorrhage. He passed away on August 10, 2025, leaving Rachel heartbroken after just four years of marriage.
The 52-year-old widow voiced her fury following the inquest, believing that had Clive been informed of the dangers, he would have attended hospital and his life might have been spared. She explained that her husband was extremely conscientious about his health and had even marked a circle around the bruise on his leg to monitor whether it was expanding.
She said: « It just doesn’t make any sense to me. All the surgeons knew about the risk, but the cardiac people didn’t make us aware. Nobody told us.
Clive had a ‘minor fall’ (Image: Rachel Hyman/SWNS)
« Clive should and could have been saved. I have the extra trauma and burden that he should be alive. That is very hard to deal with. It should not have happened.
« He had taken his health really seriously. He went to the gym five times a week and ate a very healthy diet. I can say with 100 per cent certainty that had we known a fall to the head could cause this, we would have gone to the hospital.
« Clive was not the only person to have died from it. The coroner said she has seen this problem in her court before. It is probably happening to people right now who were not made aware of this. »
Cambridge-educated Clive and Rachel first crossed paths in 2016 during a job interview and tied the knot in an intimate ceremony amidst the pandemic in 2021. Rachel described her husband, who spent two decades at ‘Big 4’ accountancy firm KPMG, as exceptionally intelligent, and had envisaged spending her entire life with him.
She is now campaigning for greater awareness surrounding the dangers of apixaban to prevent others enduring similar heartbreak.
She continued: « Clive was really wonderful. He was very bright. He was a really kind and lovely person. He treated everybody the same and did things because he cared for people.
Clive Hyman had been relatively fit and healthy, attending the gym regularly and playing cricket, when he died (Image: Rachel Hyman/SWNS)
« He wanted to live, he was finally happy in his life. We were really happy together and it is a real tragedy that he is not here. He was the love of my life.
« It is absolutely horrendous. There are no good days. My life stopped. My plans all changed. I thought we would get a good 20 years together.
« I want to make people aware so that it won’t happen to other people. If you have a fall on blood thinners, even if you feel fine, just go to the hospital. They should be changing the advice. »
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