Alex Hughes death ruled by sudden adult death syndrome

Alex Hughes, the 38-year-old son of former Wales and Manchester United footballer Mark Hughes, died from sudden adult death syndrome, a coroner ruled on August 6. The inquest at Cheshire Coroners Court in Warrington heard that Hughes collapsed in his bedroom at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire, and was found by his two young sons on the morning of June 19.

His eldest son performed CPR, but Hughes could not be revived. Assistant coroner Victoria Davies recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, agreeing with medical evidence that the cause was sudden adult death syndrome, also known as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). The condition, which results in sudden cardiac arrest from an unexplained abnormal heart rhythm, claims hundreds of lives in the United Kingdom each year.

Hughes was the player recruitment lead for Grimsby Town Football Club at the time of his death. His father, Mark Hughes, announced the tragedy in an emotional statement released through the League Managers Association in June, saying the family was "totally heartbroken" by the sudden loss. The statement described Alex Hughes as a wonderful son, brother, devoted husband to his wife Jessica, and father to...