Ken Flach's Widow Speaks Out on His Sepsis Death on FOX News

Christina and Ken Flach — a love story cut short by sepsis. Christina spoke to Fox News during Sepsis Awareness Month to share Ken's story and urge others to seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of infection.

When Wimbledon champion and Olympic gold medalist Ken Flach died suddenly at 54 from sepsis on March 12, 2018, the tennis world was stunned. But for his widow, Pretty Girl Makeup CEO and celebrity makeup artist Christina Flach, the grief quickly turned into a mission.

Christina spoke out to Fox News during Sepsis Awareness Month, sharing the devastating details of Ken’s final days and her urgent message to the public: sepsis can be stopped — but only if it is treated immediately.

Ken had been battling a respiratory infection that progressed to pneumonia. Rather than being seen in person by a doctor, he was assessed over the phone by an advice nurse. By the time he began vomiting blood and rushed to the emergency room, sepsis had already taken hold. He was intubated, transferred to UCSF, and removed from life support days later.

“My husband should never have died — never,” Christina told Fox News. “Sepsis can be stopped if it is treated immediately.”

More than 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with sepsis each year, with 270,000 cases resulting in death. Symptoms include high heart rate, fever, chills, confusion, shortness of breath, clammy skin, and extreme pain. Time is everything — and getting a patient seen in person by a doctor can mean the difference between life and death.

Christina is now one of the most passionate sepsis awareness advocates in the country, partnering with Sepsis Alliance to share Ken’s story and save lives. World Sepsis Awareness Day is September 13. Learn at Sepsis.org

Read the full FOX News feature here.

Fox News interview with Christina Flach about sepsis death of her husband, formal Wimbledon champ, Ken Flach.