Former England cricketer Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff has spoken of his guilt over the death of boxer Ricky Hatton, who was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14. Hatton's long-term manager Paul Speak discovered the body, and a coroner's court later heard that Hatton had been found hanged.
Flintoff, who attended Hatton's funeral at Manchester Cathedral, revealed that he had been unaware of Hatton's struggle with depression until they participated together in a 2012 documentary titled 'Hidden Side Of Sport'. In the programme, Hatton spoke openly about his mental health challenges, prompting Flintoff to share his own experiences.
Recalling their conversation, Flintoff said: 'When we started talking, obviously, he was so honest about what he had been going through and what he felt. And then, as he was talking, I was, like, relating to it. I've felt like that, that's what I've been like. Then it just turned into a chat about two blokes being really honest.'
Flintoff described Hatton as a 'working class hero from Manchester' who was 'charming' and 'funny', but noted that despite his public persona, Hatton battled inner demons. 'You see him like doing stand up routines at press conferences and he feels like this,' Flintoff said. 'And then obviously what's happened over the past two weeks, it's been devastating.'
The cricketer also reflected on the wider issue of mental health in sport, citing the recent death of cricketer Graham Thorpe. 'You just feel like, 'if only we would have known'. But you know it's terrible,' he added.
