“I went inside – I have a key – shouting, ‘Rick, Rick, wake up!”
The circumstances surrounding the tragic death of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton are set to be unveiled in the coming days, with a preliminary inquest hearing scheduled for next week.
Hatton was discovered dead at his Hyde, Greater Manchester home on Sunday, September 14, just shy of his 47th birthday. The devastating news sent shockwaves through the sporting world, prompting an outpouring of tributes from some of the biggest names in boxing.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Manchester to pay their respects to the former world champion ahead of his funeral service on Friday, with famous faces including Tyson Fury, Liam Gallagher, Wayne and Coleen Rooney, Belfast boxer Carl Frampton, Barry McGuigan, and Hatton’s ex-girlfriend Claire Sweeney all in attendance.
READ MORE: Barry McGuigan pays heartfelt tribute to Ricky Hatton as former boxing world champion is laid to restREAD MORE: Ricky Hatton funeral: Everything the police have said as boxing legend laid to rest at Manchester Cathedral
While the cause of the former world champion’s death has not been publicly disclosed, some of the circumstances surrounding his sudden passing are set to be heard after police – who do not believe his death to be suspicious – referred the case to the coroner.
A formal inquest opening has now been listed, with the hearing taking place at South Manchester Coroners’ Court in Stockport at 9am on Thursday, October 16. The brief administrative hearing will be presided over by the area’s senior coroner, Alison Mutch, reports the Mirror.
Inquest openings typically involve evidence being heard regarding the identity of the deceased, along with brief details surrounding the circumstances of their death. The coroner then determines whether a full inquest is necessary, with dates set for any required future hearings.
It comes after Hatton’s friend and manager Paul Speak recalled discovering the former boxer’s body at his Manchester home, as he disclosed “the truth” about what occurred.
Speak, who had arrived at Hatton’s residence to collect him for a flight to Dubai, told Boxing News: “The lights weren’t on, which I thought was strange.
“I thought he’d overslept, but it’s not unusual. People do oversleep. So, I went inside – I have a key – shouting, ‘Rick, Rick, wake up! I heard music coming from upstairs, so I went upstairs… I took a look at him… I had to take some time to process it.
“I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions,” he added. “Then I called the police and the ambulance. But I firmly believe he didn’t intend to do it. It’s for the coroner to determine, but he had it all to live for.”
Insisting that Hatton had been “in a really good place” before his sudden death, Speak continued: “He’d arranged to take his daughters to see Oasis next week. He was planning to go to Thailand for the WBC convention and a holiday after his fight. He’d just booked a flight to Tenerife for Christmas. I want to get the truth out, otherwise people will just speculate.”
At Hatton’s funeral, his children delivered a series of poignant eulogies in memory of their late father, with his 13 year old daughter Millie poignantly asking: “Why didn’t you reach out?”.
Addressing the congregation at a packed Manchester Cathedral, she reportedly questioned: “Why did you feel that way? Why didn’t you reach out about how you felt?”.
“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. 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.”
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