An inquest into the death of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe has concluded that there were 'failings' in his care during the last months of his life. The 55-year-old died on 4 August 2024 after being struck by a train at a railway station in Surrey. The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide.
The inquest at Surrey Coroner's Court heard that Thorpe had 'spiralled into depression' after losing his job as a batting coach in 2022. He had previously attempted to take his own life and had asked his wife, Amanda, for help to end his life. The coroner, Jonathan Stevens, noted that Thorpe was last seen in person by healthcare professionals on 26 March 2024, and that there were 'shortcomings' in the care provided thereafter.
Stevens highlighted that healthcare appointments were offered but Thorpe 'found it hard to attend' due to his mental health. He stated that 'someone should have gone to see him to properly monitor and assess him'. The inquest also heard that after Thorpe missed an appointment on 28 June, his wife informed his care coordinator that he had been asking for help to end his life. Despite this, professionals did not consider him to be in a 'crisis situation'.
The coroner disagreed, saying: 'I don't accept that when Graham was constantly asking his wife to help him end his life... that he was not at that point in crisis.' He added that similar protective measures to those used in May 2023, when Thorpe received inpatient treatment, should have been considered in June 2024. However, he could not conclude that the failings were gross or that they directly caused Thorpe's death.
Amanda Thorpe said outside court: 'We will never get over the tragic loss of Graham... He was my best friend, my soulmate, and he was just a joy. And he loved life – but he got very ill.' The family's legal representative, Mark McGhee, said the coroner had found 'significant shortcomings' and hoped concerns would be addressed to prevent such a loss recurring.
Jo Lynch, chief nursing officer for Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS trust, expressed deep sadness and said the trust would reflect on the findings 'with a view to continuous improvement and learning'. Thorpe, a mainstay of the England cricket team as a batter and later a coach, played 182 times for his country and scored 16 Test centuries.
