An inquest has found that Alex Hughes, the son of former Manchester United and Wales footballer Mark Hughes, died from “sudden adult death syndrome”. The 38-year-old was found collapsed in his bedroom at his home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on June 19 by his sons.
Despite resuscitation efforts, paramedics confirmed his death. A post-mortem examination attributed the cause to sudden adult death syndrome, also known as Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).
What is SADS?
SADS is diagnosed when a post-mortem examination cannot explain the cause of death because the heart’s structure appears normal. It affects around 500 people in the UK each year. The British Heart Foundation said SADS “usually happens when a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm goes untreated and leads to a cardiac arrest”.
The foundation added that inherited heart conditions are “often the cause of SADS if the person who has it doesn’t know they do”. These can include long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and progressive cardiac conduction defect.
Tributes and family statement
Alex’s death prompted an outpouring of grief across football. His father, Mark Hughes, described the loss as “totally heartbreaking” in a family statement: “Jill and I are totally heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved son Alex. Alex was a wonderful son, brother to Curtis and Xenna, devoted husband and father to Jessica and their two beautiful children Sebastian and Leonardo. Alex was Player Recruitment Lead at Grimsby Town FC, and had many good friends and colleagues. He will be so deeply missed by us all.”
Last month, Mark Hughes was among the pallbearers at his son’s funeral at St Peter’s Church in Prestbury, Cheshire. Leading figures from football attended, including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and club legends Bryan Robson and Ryan Giggs.
Career in football recruitment
Alex Hughes built a respected career in football recruitment and analysis after a brief playing spell in Wales. He worked as a match analyst at Blackburn Rovers, then joined Manchester City as a scout, and later held recruitment and analytical roles at Fulham, 1860 Munich, Reading, AFC Fylde, Morecambe, and most recently Grimsby Town.
Grimsby manager Dave Artell paid tribute, saying: “He would take everything into account, and he was just such a good guy. Life can be really cruel. He wasn't the loudest in the room, he liked process. He was good at his job, very humble. You only get one hit of this goal, in this life, and it's not been easy. It's just sad, really sad.”
