Latest news with #GeoffThorpe


Daily Mail
31-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Father of England cricket legend Graham Thorpe makes poignant admission, after inquest into his death found he was 'let down by doctors'
The father of England cricket legend Graham Thorpe has made the poignant admission that he still watches videos of his late son playing. Thorpe died after being struck by a train on August 4 last year and the three-day inquest into his death last week recorded a verdict of suicide. It also found that he had been let down by doctors and the mental health provisions of the NHS. Friday would have been his 56th birthday and 'A Day for Thorpey' is being held at The Oval during England's fifth Test against India, seeing his trademark headband sold to raise money for the charity M ind. Thorpe's family will be present and his father, Geoff, 83, told the Telegraph, he 'loves' watching old cricket videos of his son. He said: 'I watch the shots: the cover drives, the pulls – it's a nice feeling. I've got one video where he got a hundred in the Benson & Hedges Cup. David Lloyd was commentating and he said, "Watch his eyes – he's looking at the gaps". You watch and think, "Yes, that's where the ball went". 'I have a lot of pride in what he did. You can't take it away. It's just a shame that he couldn't cope with his mental health. When he died, I received a lot of letters. This suicide… this mental health… it's a big, big problem. It smothers you if you don't talk. 'I go to his grave occasionally. You have your moments of grief. But you try to find something to do very quickly. We all grieve differently. Sometimes us chaps are a little bit macho. We think we can cope. In fact we can't.' Graham's mental health deteriorated after he lost his job as England's assistant coach following the 2021-22 Ashes tour of Australia. His family said Thorpe was demonstrating the classic symptoms of depression - he was not eating, was losing weight, had struggled to find motivation, could see no future for himself, and was often unable to engage with support services. His widow, Amanda, said her husband struggled with Covid lockdowns, and then with being sacked by the ECB after a disastrous Ashes tour. She said her husband's mental health got so bad he thought it would be better for his family - including adult daughters Kitty and Emma - if he was dead. Amanda told Thorpe's inquest: 'The weeks leading up to his death, he told me he doesn't want to be here any more. He asked me to help him end his life. I was in turmoil.' Back in 2018, Thorpe was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and his condition deteriorated during the pandemic and Ashes tour of 2021-22. He was said to be 'distraught, horrified, ashamed and terrified' at a leak of a late-night video he'd shared with friends had been leaked on social media and the inquest heard that he apologised to all the players and staff personally. Thorpe attempted to take his own life in April 2022, leaving him unconscious for three weeks and in intensive care for more than a month. The inquest found that there had been shortcomings in the care Thorpe subsequently received, finding that doctors repeatedly failed to follow up. He wasn't seen once in the final four-and-a-half months of his life by the psychiatrist in charge of his care, and twice at all by any of his local support team, despite making repeated references to suicidal thoughts. The inquest heard Thorpe's previous care coordinator, Jessica Harris, had worked hard to establish trust with her patient, and would arrange to visit him at home if he ever felt unwell enough to attend. Yet the inquest in Woking today heard she had left her role in February 2024, and Thorpe's attendance at meetings plummeted. Ms Harris' replacement, Katie Johnson, managed to speak with Amanda, Thorpe's wife of 17 years, on June 28 and reported his condition had deteriorated still further. In her note to colleagues, Ms Johnson wrote: 'He cannot get out of bed, constantly asking [Amanda] to help him end his life. 'Amanda said he has really tried but he cannot get over what he did,' deemed to be a possible reference to either losing his job or his failed suicide attempt. She added: 'He is so sure nothing is going to work, he has convinced her it's cruel to go on, he wants to go to Switzerland,' in reference to the Dignitas euthanasia clinic. Dr Baheerathan denied the suggestion from Mr McGhee that this showed Thorpe was planning to end his life, requiring an urgent escalation in his care. 'It was not a plan, it's a thought,' the psychiatrist said. 'He has to go on the flight, make several arrangements. It's just a thought he shared with his wife.' But Ms Johnson admitted she interpreted this as Thorpe saying he wanted to end his life. Yet the next recorded appointment for Thorpe to see anyone was on August 9 and his death came five days earlier. Thorpe will be remembered at The Oval on Friday and no doubt his father Geoff and the fans present will be treated to old footage of his batting prowess. He played 100 Tests and 82 ODIs for England between 1993 and 2005. Funds from headband sales will be specifically used to roll out Mind's 'Bat and Chat' community cricket sessions around the country.


Telegraph
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
‘I watch videos of my son Graham Thorpe batting'
'I love it,' says Geoff Thorpe, poignantly, as he describes the pleasure that he still experiences while watching videos of his son's stellar cricket career. He mentions the comeback hundred that Graham Thorpe scored against South Africa at the Oval in 2003, exactly a decade after he marked his England debut with an unbeaten Ashes century against Australia. That had not been done for 20 years. There were also virtuoso performances in conditions as diverse as the WACA in Perth and a turning pitch in Colombo against Muttiah Muralitharan. 'I watch the shots: the cover drives, the pulls – it's a nice feeling,' says Geoff. 'I've got one video where he got a hundred in the Benson & Hedges Cup. David Lloyd was commentating and he said, 'Watch his eyes – he's looking at the gaps'. You watch and think, 'Yes, that's where the ball went'. 'I have a lot of pride in what he did. You can't take it away. It's just a shame that he couldn't cope with his mental health. When he died, I received a lot of letters. This suicide… this mental health… it's a big, big problem. It smothers you if you don't talk. 'I go to his grave occasionally. You have your moments of grief. But you try to find something to do very quickly. We all grieve differently. Sometimes us chaps are a little bit macho. We think we can cope. In fact we can't.' Geoff, alongside Thorpe's wife Amanda and brothers Alan and Ian, was ever-present last week during a three-day inquest which, having briefly outlined Thorpe's brilliant career – Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root and Sir Alastair Cook are the only Englishmen to have scored both 6,000 Test runs and averaged more than Thorpe's 44.66 in the past 60 years – focused on the heartbreaking final three years of his life. Inquests are intimate and necessarily intrusive affairs but the Thorpe family were never less than friendly and accommodating to the various observers – whether media, health professionals or legal representatives – who gathered inside Court Three at Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking. A verdict of suicide was recorded after Thorpe was struck by a train on the morning of August 4 last year, but not before the coroner Jonathan Stevens had heard about 'shortcomings' in his NHS mental health provision and how his life 'came crashing down' after he lost his job as England assistant coach following the 2021-22 Ashes tour. Friday would have been Thorpe's 56th birthday and, on the second day of the fifth India Test at the Oval ground he graced for 17 years with Surrey and England, 'A Day for Thorpey' will see trademark headbands sold to raise funds for the charity Mind. Thorpe's wife Amanda and their two daughters, Kitty, 23, and Emma who turns 20 on Saturday, are determined also to extract some light from the tragedy. Kitty instantly describes her dad as 'kind, caring, fun', who 'taught me how to treat people with kindness and respect'. Emma recalls their table football matches, how her 'amazing dad' would 'sing and dance' in the kitchen and always kept them 'grounded'. Amanda says that seeing how her 'best friend and soulmate' succumbed, despite being the sort of person that people would naturally turn to for advice, was 'terrifying' to witness. 'It's real, it is actually an illness and it's not rational,' she says. 'He was just a joy – he lived life but he got very ill.' The story of this cricketing great actually began in the village of Wrecclesham, a few miles west of Farnham where the Thorpe family became synonymous with the local club. Thorpe's 83-year-old father Geoff was once the chairman. Brothers Ian and Alan, respectively now 60 and 58, were first-team captains. Their mother, Toni, was a valued scorer over several decades before her death in August 2022. Club cricket was the bedrock of their lives and, from conversations during breaks at Thorpe's inquest, it was clear that some of the happiest days were growing up in the uncomplicated amateur environment of simply playing with your mates before celebrating or commiserating over a few pints. Alan says that Thorpe was always 'head and shoulders' ahead of his contemporaries and recalls how, as a 15-year-old first-team debutant against the locally feared 6ft 3in fast bowler from Ashtead, he simply hooked his first-ball bouncer to the boundary on the way to a score of 90. No helmets in those days, too. 'I said, 'How did you see that off the pitch?' He replied, 'I saw it out of his hand',' says Alan. 'He had so much more time than anyone else and, whenever he went up the levels, he just seemed to readjust.' The story of how Thorpe came to bat left-handed is also surprisingly little-known. 'Initially he picked it up right-handed – the same as he used to bowl and write – but then he found that he could score easier in the garden left-handed,' explains Geoff. And what made it better to bat left-handed on the 15-foot 'wicket' in their garden? 'Conifers,' says Geoff. 'You scored more runs that way than the flowers in the other direction. The garden was on a slope – and the rhododendron basically was the bowling crease. We played to win. No one went easy on Graham because he was the youngest brother.' Also an international schoolboy footballer and county-level long-jumper, Thorpe ultimately chose cricket as the focus for his prodigious sporting talent. It followed being dropped from an under-18 football international against Scotland for being sent off in a local club match. The incident still irritates Geoff, who says that his son, a two-footed midfielder, had simply taken revenge on one of their 'animals' after being on the receiving end of a dreadful tackle. Thorpe was left in tears by the School FA's decision and had already also taken up a place on the Surrey county staff. Geoff thinks that Thorpe's comprehensive school upbringing – and experience of rather more unpredictable pitches – was very much to his advantage. 'If you know the bounce is not true then you play each ball on its merit,' he says. He would quickly progress to rather more serious stages and, as a man who was never much one for rules, the intensely scrutinised environment of elite cricket evidently brought its challenges. Relentless playing demands, particularly once he had also broken into the England team and was on regular overseas tours, made consistent contact with the wider family more sparing. Mike Atherton, his long-time England captain, does not hesitate in using the word 'great' in describing Thorpe and says that he was easily the best England batsman of that era. Those innings against Australia in 1993, when he scored an unbeaten hundred on his debut, against Sri Lanka in 2001, where he so skilfully saw off Muralitharan for a series-winning century, and then another 100 on his comeback in 2003, are still talked about with a certain awe. The inquest, however, detailed how Thorpe was sometimes playing amid the backdrop of emotional turmoil. The breakdown of his first marriage in 2001 had a significant impact, both financially and mentally, particularly due to the estrangement from two of his children. He became a supporter of Fathers4Justice (later wishing that he had gone out to bat with a sticker highlighting the cause) and would meet Amanda in 2003 when he stepped back from an international career that places him in a group of just 17 Englishmen to play 100 Tests. He retired in 2005 due to a chronic back injury but, after coaching in Australia, returned to jobs with Surrey and then the ECB where, during 13 years, he was part of the coaching team when England so memorably won the 2019 World Cup. Thorpe was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018, but continued working before his condition worsened significantly during the Covid pandemic and the England Ashes tour of Australia in 2021-22 that was played amid stringent lockdown rules and testing. Thorpe's inquest would hear he was then 'distraught, horrified, ashamed and terrified' when a late-night video of a post-series social he had shared with some friends was leaked. He apologised personally to all the players and backroom staff. England lost the series 4-0 and Thorpe, along with Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles, was dismissed soon after returning to England. 'There's nothing worse than going to work on a Friday and there's nothing on Monday,' says Geoff. The inquest heard that Thorpe 'felt a failure, spiralled into depression' and became drained of confidence, with issues of anxiety and insomnia, loss of appetite, guilt, feeling a burden and not wanting to meet people. He made a first attempt on his life on April 30, 2022, which left him unconscious for three weeks, and in intensive care for around five weeks. Geoff says that Graham would still help him around the garden after he came out of hospital – and recalls them planting trees together for the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee along the riverbank in Farnham – before he became even more seriously ill the following year. According to Kitty, he aged 'about 15 years' in this period and even the most simple tasks, like walking the beloved family dog Bertie, became a major effort. Alec Stewart, his old England and Surrey team-mate, says that he stopped responding to messages in March 2024 – the exact same month he last saw his psychiatrist. Thorpe was not then visited by any member of his NHS care team before his death in August, despite frequently missing further appointments, and openly saying that he wanted to die. 'It was awful to see – he just felt that no one could help him,' Amanda said. Upon releasing news of his death last August, the family were taken aback by the reaction and are rightly determined that Friday should celebrate a life that, first through cricket and now his mental health challenges, has touched people far beyond his immediate circle. 'The girls and some of my friends were saying, 'We didn't realise how famous he was' but that was how humble and normal he was,' says Amanda. 'I think he knew how much we loved him, but I don't know if he knew how much he was loved.' His daughters are also determined to take forward the values he helped instil. 'He made sure we were humble and grounded, and would tell us stories of the things he'd see and people he'd meet on tour,' says Kitty. 'He'd see various ways of living and always remind us to be grateful for what we had. He taught me that life can have its challenges. He told me to never lose perspective: Zoom out and look at the bigger picture and will it matter in five years' time? He taught me to make the most of every opportunity. I love and miss him so much but I'm so grateful to have grown up with him and will take his wisdom advice with me forever.' Emma adds: 'My dad was quite a private person, so for us to share his and our experience is important to help other people who have gone through similar things – to start a conversation, to reduce the shame and stigma there are.' In concluding the inquest, assistant coroner Stevens took the rare step of speaking more widely about his legacy. He publicly commended the family for their 'courage and openness' and highlighted the forthcoming 'Day For Thorpey' at which funds will be specifically used to roll out Mind's 'Bat and Chat' community cricket sessions across the country. 'It's a lovely tribute to a very special man,' said Stevens.


Sky News
24-07-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Cricketer Graham Thorpe asked wife 'to help end his life' before death, inquest hears
Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe asked his wife "to help him end his life" in the weeks before he was struck by a train. Mr Thorpe died on 4 August 2024 at a railway station in Surrey. His widow Amanda Thorpe said he had taken his own life. Mrs Thorpe told an inquest he suffered a "horrible time" and that losing his job as batting coach in 2022 was the "start of the decline of his mental health". Surrey Coroner's Court heard on Wednesday that Mr Thorpe, 55, was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018 and tried to take his own life previously in 2022. Up until 2020, Mrs Thorpe said there were no psychological issues in particular, apart from "a bout of depression" in 2018, but he found lockdown "very difficult". She said an incident involving a leaked video in Australia left him "distraught". Mr Thorpe shared a video with some friends while on tour there, which was leaked, and the incident was "blown out of all proportion", she added. According to reports at the time, the video, filmed after an Ashes series England lost 4-0, showed police breaking up a drinking session with England and Australia players. His father, Geoff Thorpe, said this incident caused "catastrophic damage" to his son and "ultimately he lost his job". He then quickly "spiralled into depression", and became "more and more desperate and helpless in the last year of his life". The coroner, Jonathan Stevens, read a statement from Mr Thorpe's GP Joan Munnelly, detailing the cricketer was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018. An attempt to take his own life in 2022 resulted in a brain injury, Dr Munnelly added, and he was in intensive care. By 2023, Mrs Thorpe said her husband had suicidal thoughts, and after Christmas he was "in a terrible way". The last contact between Mr Thorpe and those overseeing his psychiatric care was in June last year. Mrs Thorpe felt he should have been "assessed properly" - adding in the weeks before his death he told her he "doesn't want to be here anymore" and had "asked me to help him end his life". In May 2022, the England and Wales Cricket Board was advised Mr Thorpe had attempted to take his own life. The board's chief medical officer Professor Nick Pierce said "at no point during Graham's time at ECB had there been any concern regarding a risk of self-harm or intent to end life". The inquest continues.


Glasgow Times
23-07-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Cricketer Graham Thorpe ‘spiralled into depression' after job loss, inquest told
The 55-year-old died on the morning of August 4 2024 after being struck by a train at a railway station in Surrey. His widow Amanda Thorpe said he had taken his own life. An inquest at Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking on Wednesday heard that Mr Thorpe was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018 and previously tried to take his own life in 2022. Amanda Thorpe outside Surrey Coroner's Court (Jonathan Brady/PA) An incident involving a leaked video in Australia that year had left him 'distraught', the court was told. Mrs Thorpe said that up until 2020 there were no psychological issues in particular, apart from 'a bout of depression' in 2018 which did not affect his job. In a statement to the court, she said her husband 'found lockdown and Covid very difficult, very stressful'. While on tour in Australia, there was an 'incident involving a video that was taken that had adverse publicity'. Mr Thorpe shared a video with some friends which was leaked, and the incident was 'blown out of all proportion', leaving Mr Thorpe 'distraught', Mrs Thorpe's statement added. According to reports at the time, the video, filmed after a dismal Ashes series which England lost 4-0, showed Tasmanian police breaking up a drinking session involving both England and Australia players. Mrs Thorpe described it as a 'horrible' time, and said the later termination of his employment with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was a 'real shock to Graham', which was the 'start of the decline of his mental health'. Mr Thorpe during a nets session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2021 (PA) Coroner Jonathan Stevens read a statement from Mr Thorpe's GP, Joan Munnelly, who said the cricketer was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018. Dr Munnelly said an attempt to take his own life in 2022 resulted in a brain injury and he was in intensive care. Mr Thorpe spent time in a private hospital after he was discharged. By 2023, Mr Thorpe had suicidal thoughts, Mrs Thorpe said, and after Christmas he was 'in a terrible way'. The last contact between Mr Thorpe and those responsible for his psychiatric care was in June last year, and Mrs Thorpe felt that he should have been 'assessed properly', the court heard. Mrs Thorpe said in the weeks leading up to his death, her husband told her he 'doesn't want to be here anymore' and had 'asked me to help him end his life'. In a statement, Mr Thorpe's father, Geoff Thorpe, said the video incident had 'caused catastrophic damage to him' and 'ultimately he lost his job', then quickly 'spiralled into depression'. Mr Thorpe became 'more and more desperate and helpless in the last year of his life', he added. Geoff Thorpe said the video incident had caused 'catastrophic damage' to his son (Jonathan Brady/PA) Reading Geoff Thorpe's statement, the coroner said: 'You felt those who were responsible for Graham's safety and care could've done more to intervene.' Professor Nick Pierce, the ECB's chief medical officer, said in a statement that after Mr Thorpe's employment ended in February 2022 his private health insurance cover was extended until the May. In May, the ECB was advised that Mr Thorpe had attempted to take his own life, and Prof Pierce explained that 'at no point during Graham's time at ECB had there been any concern regarding a risk of self harm or intent to end life'. He added that the ECB healthcare trust was approached about helping to cover the costs of treatment for Mr Thorpe at a hospital and the trustees agreed. Mr Thorpe was a mainstay in the England set-up for many years, first as a batter between 1993 and 2005 before spending 12 years in coaching roles. During a distinguished international career, he struck 16 Test hundreds for England, including a debut century against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1993, and represented his country 182 times in all formats. The inquest continues.