Editing Duncan Edwards (section)

==Death==
{{further|Munich air disaster}}
[[File:DuncanEdwards2.JPG|thumb|right|upright|alt=A gravestone almost entirely covered in floral tributes|Edwards is buried in Dudley Cemetery, and his grave still attracts many tributes from fans.]]

Returning home from [[Belgrade]] on 6 February 1958, the aeroplane carrying Edwards and his teammates crashed on takeoff after a refuelling stop in [[Munich]], Germany.<ref name="Munich">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/6/newsid_2535000/2535961.stm|title=1958: United players killed in air disaster|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 February 2008 |date=6 February 1958 }}</ref> Seven players and 14 other passengers died at the scene,<ref name="Munich"/> and Edwards was taken to the [[Rechts der Isar Hospital]] suffering from many serious injuries including multiple leg fractures, fractured ribs and severely damaged kidneys.<ref name="grdn2015"/><ref name="ca"/><ref name="HK">{{cite news|url=http://www.bicesteradvertiser.net/oxfordunited/unitednews/display.var.2021225.0.hodgy_sheds_a_tear_for_mate.php|title=Hodgy sheds a tear for mate|work=Bicester Advertiser|access-date=18 February 2008|date=5 February 2008}}</ref> The doctors treating him were confident that he could recover, but were doubtful that he would ever be able to play football again.<ref>McCartney, p. 114.</ref>

Edwards regained consciousness soon after reaching the hospital.<ref name="grdn2015"/> Over the next two weeks, his condition fluctuated. Doctors had an [[artificial kidney]] rushed to the hospital for him, but the artificial organ reduced his blood's ability to clot and he began to bleed internally.<ref name="amazed"/> Despite this, the day after the crash he asked assistant manager [[Jimmy Murphy (footballer)|Jimmy Murphy]], "What time is the kick off against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]], Jimmy? I mustn't miss that match."<ref>Wagg et al., p. 22.</ref> By 14 February, his condition was reported to have "dramatically improved".<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester soccer star much improved |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vGNkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3702,2703811&dq=munich+manchester-united&hl=en |work=Calgary Herald |agency=Reuters |date=14 February 1958 |access-date=23 April 2011 }}</ref> By 19 February, his condition had deteriorated again, and it was reported that he was "sinking rapidly", with use of the artificial kidney machine developing into a "vicious circle, gradually sapping his strength".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-wFBAAAAIBAJ&pg=4122,5269032&dq=duncan+manchester-united&hl=en|title=Edwards is sinking rapidly|date=19 February 1958|access-date=24 April 2011|work=Evening Times|first=Gair|last=Henderson}}</ref>

Doctors had said several days earlier that they were "amazed" at his fight for life, and the next day a "very slight improvement" in his condition was reported.<ref name="HK"/><ref name="amazed">McCartney, p. 117.</ref><ref name="Gru">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2008/feb/05/2?picture=332386514|title=The lost Babes|work=The Guardian|date=5 February 2008|access-date=18 February 2008}}</ref>  Nurses noticed that his circulation was failing, and injections briefly improved this, but his strength ebbed away and medical staff were unable to save him. He died at 2:15&nbsp;a.m. on 21 February 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+Dudley's+jewel+in+the+crown...+Busby+Babe+Duncan+Edwards...-a0175120455|title=Football: Dudley's jewel in the crown... Busby Babe Duncan Edwards died 50 years ago today, aged just 21|first=Roger|last=Clarke|date=21 February 2008|access-date=18 November 2012|work=[[Birmingham Mail]]}}</ref> Hours before his death, by coincidence, a new issue of ''[[Charlie Buchan|Charles Buchan]]'s Football Monthly'' was published in the United Kingdom, with a photograph of a smiling Edwards on the cover.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Best of Charles Buchan's Football Monthly|first=Simon|last=Inglis|page=57|publisher=Malavan Media|year=2008|isbn=978-0-9547445-8-8}}</ref>

Edwards was buried at Dudley Cemetery five days later,<ref name="King"/> alongside his sister Carol Anne.<ref name="ESPN"/> More than 5,000 people lined the streets of Dudley for his funeral.<ref name="book121">McCartney, p. 121.</ref> His tombstone reads: "A day of memory, Sad to recall, Without farewell, He left us all" and his grave is regularly visited by fans.<ref name="MEN"/>