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Inquest reveals care failings in Graham Thorpe's death

A coroner's inquest confirmed care deficiencies leading to the suicide of cricketer Graham Thorpe.

July 25, 2025 at 05:51 PM

Graham Thorpe’s care had ’failings’ in last months of his life, says coroner

An inquest has revealed crucial failings in the care of Graham Thorpe before his death by suicide.

Coroner identifies care failings in Graham Thorpe's final months

A coroner’s inquest has determined that former England cricketer Graham Thorpe experienced significant failings in his care leading up to his death by suicide on August 4, 2024. Thorpe, who was 55, was struck by a train in Surrey after a prolonged battle with depression that worsened after he lost his job as a batting coach in 2022. The inquest revealed that Thorpe had struggled with his mental health for months, particularly after an incident in June where he expressed suicidal thoughts and asked his wife for assistance in ending his life. Despite these alarming signs, healthcare professionals did not consider him to be in a crisis situation, resulting in missed opportunities to provide critical support that may have altered the tragic outcome.

Key Takeaways

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Thorpe's death concluded as a suicide due to mental illness.

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Coroner identified care failings prior to his death.

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Healthcare professionals did not classify Thorpe's condition as a crisis.

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Thorpe expressed suicidal thoughts multiple times before his death.

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There were significant miss opportunities for proper assessments.

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Inpatient treatment may have been beneficial in the months leading to his passing.

"In my judgment there were shortcomings in the care that should have been provided to Graham in the last four months."

The coroner highlighted the gaps in care leading up to Thorpe's death.

"We will never get over the tragic loss of Graham, and we miss him every day."

Amanda Thorpe expressed the deep emotional impact of her husband's death.

"If he had been seen in those last four months... I cannot say whether it would or would not have made any difference."

The coroner acknowledged the uncertainty of intervention but stressed its importance.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Graham Thorpe and our thoughts are with Graham's family."

The NHS representative expressed condolences and commitment to learning from the incident.

The inquest into Graham Thorpe's death shines a light on important issues within mental health care systems, particularly regarding how professionals assess and respond to visible signs of distress. Thorpe's case illustrates the potentially fatal consequences of failing to recognize and act upon crises, especially when individuals convey urgent needs for help. As the coroner pointed out, the inattention to Thorpe's well-being, despite clear indications of his fragile mental state, calls for a reevaluation of current protocols. Stricter guidelines and more proactive measures could prevent future tragedies similar to Thorpe's, demonstrating the need for systemic change in mental health practices.