Boxing world champion Ricky Hatton died on September 14 with an inquest into his death opening on Thursday following his funeral last week
An inquest into the sudden and tragic death of British boxing icon Ricky Hatton is set to commence on Thursday morning, just over a month after his unexpected demise at 46-years-old. The former world champion was discovered dead at his residence in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on September 14, sending shockwaves throughout the sporting community.
His funeral took place on Friday, with thousands of mourners lining the streets of Manchester and numerous celebrities attending the service at the city’s cathedral. A month after the heartbreaking incident, little information has been released about Hatton’s cause of death.
However, some details surrounding his passing are expected to be unveiled on Thursday, following the police – who do not suspect any foul play – referring the case to the coroner. The inquest opening is officially slated to occur at South Manchester Coroners’ Court in Stockport at 9am on Thursday, presided over by the area’s senior coroner Alison Mutch, the Mirror reports.
Inquests are initiated by coroners when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a death has occurred due to anything other than natural causes. While there is no precise legal definition of a ‘natural’ cause of death, it is generally described as “death due to a disease running its full course with no other intervening factors.”
An inquest opening is a brief administrative hearing where the coroner officially commences the investigation into the death. The coroner confirms the identity of the deceased, as well as the medical cause of death if it is known, and the brief circumstances of the death may also be discussed.
The coroner then decides whether a full inquest is necessary and postpones the hearing to a future date for a review or final hearing.
A timetable is then set for the next stages of the investigation, including the gathering of witness statements and reports, as well as scheduling a date for any required future hearings.
Hatton was candid about his mental health struggles, with his 13 year old daughter Millie’s heart-wrenching eulogy at his funeral prompting her to ask him: “Why didn’t you reach out?”.
Addressing the congregation inside Manchester Cathedral during the service, she said: “I can’t help but think about how you will never walk me down the aisle, how you will never meet my children and your grandchildren, how you won’t be here to see me leave school or even see me grow into an adult.
“Why did you feel that way? Why didn’t you reach out about how you felt? I genuinely hope you don’t ever think you have let me down, because I would never think that. I love and miss you unconditionally.”
Paul Speak, a close friend and long-time manager of Hatton, was the one who discovered the 46-years-old’s body at his Manchester home when he arrived to take him to the airport.
Initially assuming the former boxer had merely overslept, it wasn’t until he ventured upstairs that he encountered the devastating truth.
