Coroner ‘cannot be satisfied’ that Ricky Hatton intended to take his own life | Ricky Hatton

A coroner has said he “cannot be satisfied” that British former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton intended to take his own life.

Hatton, 46, was found dead in his home on September 14, and the inquest concluded the official cause of death was hanging.

But his family told Stockport coroner’s court that the experienced boxer was “the best he’s been in years” in the run-up to his death.

Hatton’s body was found at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, after police received a call from a concerned neighbour; it was later revealed to be his manager Paul Speak.

The court heard Hatton was last seen by family members on Friday, September 12, as she took her daughters and granddaughter to a pub for a meal.

The inquest heard Hatton appeared normal as he said goodbye and said he would see them in a few days after returning from Dubai, where he was to take part in an exhibition boxing match.

The court heard Hatton did not attend an engagement he had planned to attend the next day and on the morning of Sunday, September 14, Speak went to Hatton’s home to accompany him to Manchester airport for a flight to Dubai.

When he received no response, Speak entered Hatton’s home and found him unresponsive. Speak called emergency services but Hatton was pronounced dead.

Tests later revealed Hatton was “well above” the drink-driving limit at the time of his death. Traces of previous cocaine and marijuana use were also found.

The former world champion has been open about his struggles with clinical depression and substance abuse, once saying he was “derailed” by drink and drug abuse, and has previously described himself as “like a runaway train”.

Postmortem evidence also showed that he had some damage to his brain, identified as boxing-associated chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

South Manchester’s senior coroner Alison Mutch told the court police had uncovered no information to suggest he planned to take his own life.

At the end of the inquest he said: “I have listened very carefully to all the evidence. Putting it all together, I cannot be persuaded that he intended to take his own life.”

“Therefore, it is not legally possible for me to decide on suicide. I decided on an investigation.

“As he was under the influence of alcohol and there was neuropathological postmortem evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, his intent remains unclear and I conclude that.”

Hatton’s son, Campbell, told the hearing that his father was “always loved and cherished by all of us.”

“He lived his life 110% in and out of the ring and always said he never regretted it,” he added.

Campbell acknowledged his father had been open about his struggles with alcohol and drugs, but said: “The family believe he is the best he has been in years and were making big plans for the future, which leads us to believe this was not premeditated.

“But over the last two or three years we have all noticed a significant decline in short-term memory.

“He was constantly repeating himself, he had to write things down and he had to be reminded of the things he had to do every day.”

Jennifer Dooley, Hatton’s former partner and mother of his daughters Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12, said he was a very hands-on father who doted on his children and continued to spend time together after the couple split in 2016.

“He often said that the time he spent with his daughter was when he was happiest,” she said.