Graham Thorpe, a former England and Surrey cricketer, “spiralled into depression” after losing his job as a batting coach in 2022, according to an inquest.
The 55-year-old was struck by a train on August 4, 2024, and his widow, Amanda Thorpe, later claimed that he had committed suicide.
According to an inquest held on Wednesday at Woking Coroner’s Court, Mr. Thorpe had been depressed and anxious since being diagnosed with anxiety in 2018. He had previously attempted to commit suicide in 2022.
Mrs. Thorpe claimed that, until 2020, there had been no psychological issues apart from “a bout of depression” in 2018, which had no impact on his employment.
Her statement then addressed a 2022 incident involving a leaked Australian video that had caused Mr. Thorpe to become “distraught.”
The video, which was initially reported at the time, showed Tasmanian police breaking up a drinking match between England and Australia players.
Mrs. Thorpe described the time as “horrible,” calling it a “real shock” and “decline” of his mental health the day after his employment with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was terminated.
Geoff Thorpe, Mr. Thorpe’s father, claimed in a statement that the video incident had “caused catastrophic harm to him.”
The ECB’s chief medical officer, Professor Nick Pierce, stated in a statement that Mr. Thorpe’s private health insurance coverage was extended until May after his employment ended in February 2022.
He claimed that there was no “intent to end life” or “a risk of self harm” during Mr. Thorpe’s time working for the ECB.
Dr. Joan Munnelly, Mr. Thorpe’s GP, said the cricketer had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018. Coroner Jonathan Stevens read a statement from Dr. Munnelly, the coroner.
Dr. Munnelly claimed Thorpe received a brain injury as a result of his 2022 attempt to commit suicide.
By 2023, her husband was having suicidal thoughts, according to Mrs. Thorpe, and was “in a terrible way” after Christmas that year.
In June of last year, Mr. Thorpe and the people who provided his psychiatric care made the last contact.
Source: BBC
Leave a Reply