Love of sun proves fatal

Eric Poissonier. Photo / Supplied

Eric Poissonier loved the sun and spent much of his childhood on Christchurch's New Brighton beach.

But years later his love of the outdoors caught up with him. A cancerous melanoma appeared on his chest and five weeks later had taken his life. He was 48.

His wife Debbie told the Herald on Sunday yesterday that Poissonnier's health problems started when he had a mole removed five years ago.

"It had gone black and it had started to weep and we knew then it wasn't good."

They went to their family GP. "The doctor took one look at it and said 'that's got to come out today'."

Then five weeks ago a lump formed on his chest and a biopsy revealed the melanoma had returned.

"It was throughout him, he had a short life expectancy although we certainly didn't think it would be just five weeks," Debbie said.

At Poissonnier's funeral on Wednesday his wife will make part of her eulogy a warning about the dangers of skin cancer.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY