Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton was found hanged at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, an inquest has heard.
The 46-year-old, who lived alone in a £1.7 million property, was discovered unresponsive by his longtime manager and close friend, Paul Speak, on the morning of September 14.
The brief hearing at Stockport Coroner’s Court, which lasted less than five minutes, heard that Hatton was last seen alive by family members on September 12 and had “appeared well” at the time.
When Hatton failed to show up for an event the next day, concerns grew. Mr Speak arrived at his home two days later to drive him to Manchester Airport for a flight to Dubai — but found him dead with a ligature around his neck.
In a later interview with Boxing News, Mr Speak said he initially thought Hatton had overslept. “The lights weren’t on, which I thought was strange,” he recalled. “I went inside shouting, ‘Rick, wake up!’ I heard music from upstairs, went up, and… I had to take some time to process what I saw. I was in a state of shock and confusion. Then I called the police and ambulance.”
Mr Speak said Hatton had seemed “in a really good place” in the days before his death. He had been planning to take his daughters to an Oasis concert, attend a boxing convention in Thailand, spend Christmas in Tenerife, and prepare for a comeback fight in Dubai this December against Abu Dhabi’s Eisa Al Dah.
Senior Coroner Alison Mutch adjourned the inquest until March 20 next year and gave a provisional cause of death as hanging. “I’m going to require the full police file and witness statements, including one from Mr Hatton’s GP,” she said.
Earlier today, Hatton’s son Campbell spoke about his father on Good Morning Britain, saying the family was “taking each day at a time.”
Reflecting on the overwhelming public support during his father’s funeral, Campbell said:
“He always said he was more proud of his fanbase than his belts and titles. Seeing the streets lined with people it was surreal. There was never a moment where the route wasn’t full.”
