The inquest into the death of boxing legend Ricky Hatton has heard that he died from injuries consistent with hanging, with a pathologist recording the cause of death as hanging and noting no evidence of suspicious circumstances. The former world champion, 46, was found unresponsive at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14 last year by his long-term friend and manager, Paul Speak.
Hatton had last been seen alive by family on September 12, when he took his daughters and granddaughter for a meal at a pub and appeared well. He failed to attend a scheduled event the following day, and on the morning of September 14, Mr Speak arrived at his home to take him to Manchester Airport for a trip to Dubai, where Hatton was due to take part in an exhibition boxing match.
Senior coroner Alison Mutch concluded a narrative verdict, stating she could not be satisfied that Hatton intended to take his own life. She noted that he had made significant future plans, no suicide notes were found, and his intention remained unclear due to alcohol consumption and the presence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) found during a neuropathological post-mortem.
The coroner expressed that Hatton's family, including his son Campbell, father Ray, brother Matthew, and ex-partner Jennifer Dooley, had "lost a much-loved family member and are still grieving." She described Hatton as a man who loved his family very much and whose children miss him most of all, calling it a tragedy for his parents that no parent ever expects to bury their child.
