Eddie Jordan, the Formula 1 legend, died on Thursday in Cape Town, South Africa following a journey with bladder cancer, which is the eleventh most common cancer in the UK
Eddie Jordan died of bladder cancer on Thursday after being diagnosed with it last year.
It’s the eleventh most common cancer in the UK – yet doctors often say symptoms are overlooked. They’ve reminded people of the key signs, stressing the cancer is most common in older men, largely because in the past men were more likely to smoke and work in the manufacturing industry.
And men may experience a painful, burning sensation in their penis when peeing, medics say. This, they add, can often be dismissed but men should see their GP if they experience such pain.
Both men and women may need to pee more often than usual too, or have difficulty urinating. However, the most common symptom, according to the NHS, is blood in the urine – also known as hematuria.
It is unclear what symptoms Mr Jordan, the Formula 1 legend, experienced initially. The star, described as a “wonderful human and charismatic leader”, also had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
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NHS’ full list of bladder cancer symptoms
- a need to urinate on a more frequent basis
- a burning sensation when passing urine
- unintentional weight loss
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Eddie Jordan: Former Formula 1 team owner dies at 76
Some of the symptoms are painless and can often be dismissed or ignored, doctors say. However, a prompt diagnosis helps improve the chances of beating the cancer – or prolonging your life further.
Blood in your urine may be a sign of other problems, including kidney stones or a kidney infection, and so anyone experiencing this symptom should make an appointment with their GP.
Bladder cancer kills more than 5,000 people in the UK each year. However, in cases of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, it’s usually possible to remove the cancerous cells while leaving the rest of the bladder intact. This is done using a surgical technique called transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT). This is followed by a dose of chemotherapy medicines directly into the bladder, to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
Mr Jordan, also a television pundit, was diagnosed with cancer last year. He died peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town, South Africa, on Thursday morning.
A statement from his family said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Jordan OBE the ex-Formula 1 team owner, TV pundit and entrepreneur. He passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town in the early hours of 20 March 2025.”
His F1 team, which made its debut in 1991, won four grands prix in its 15 years in the sport and challenged briefly for the drivers’ championship in 1999, before suffering declining fortunes and being sold in 2005.
