A coroner has said she “cannot be satisfied” that former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton intended to take his own life, as an inquest into his death revealed he had made significant future plans.

 

 

 

Hatton, 46, was found unresponsive at his home on September 14 last year. The inquest heard that the official cause of death was hanging.

 

 

 

Senior coroner Alison Mutch told the court that no suicide note was found and there was no evidence from police investigations to suggest he had planned to end his life.

 

 

 

Tests showed Hatton was over the legal drink-drive limit at the time of his death, while traces of previous cocaine and cannabis use were also identified.

 

 

 

A post-mortem examination revealed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition associated with repeated blows to the head in contact sports such as boxing.

 

 

 

Delivering her conclusion, the coroner said: “He had made significant future plans and no notes were found indicating he intended to take his own life.

 

 

 

“I have listened very carefully to all the evidence. When I add everything together, I cannot be satisfied he intended to take his own life.

 

 

 

“Therefore, it is not possible in law for me to conclude suicide. I have concluded a narrative verdict.

 

 

 

“His intention remains unclear as he was under the influence of alcohol and the neuropathological post-mortem found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.”

 

 

 

Family members present at the hearing described Hatton as a devoted father who had been in good spirits and “the best he had been in years,” despite previous struggles with alcohol and drugs.