The son of former Manchester United striker and Wales manager Mark Hughes died of sudden adult death syndrome, an inquest has heard. Alex Hughes was found by his children, the court was told.
Mark Hughes, who is now the manager of Grimsby Town, has paid tribute to his son. The hearing was told that the cause of death was sudden adult death syndrome, a term used when someone dies suddenly and no clear cause can be identified after medical examination.
Sudden adult death syndrome, sometimes referred to as SADS, is most often seen in younger people, although it can affect anyone. It is not the same as a heart attack, which usually involves a blocked artery. In cases of SADS, the heart can stop without warning, frequently because of an inherited condition affecting the heart's rhythm. Many victims show no previous symptoms, which can make the death particularly hard for relatives and friends to understand.
The inquest was told that Alex Hughes was discovered by his own children. The circumstances of how he was found formed part of the hearing, and the medical cause of death was recorded as sudden adult death syndrome.
Hughes has spent a long career in professional football. He was a Manchester United player in his early years and later became manager of the Wales national team. He is now in charge of Grimsby Town, a League Two club, and has paid tribute to his son.
Sudden adult death syndrome is a recognised cause of unexpected death among young people. Coroners use the term when a post-mortem examination does not reveal a clear cause, despite the person appearing to be in good health. Campaigners have long called for wider access to heart screening so that conditions linked to SADS can be identified earlier, particularly in young athletes.
An inquest is a formal hearing held when a death is sudden, unexpected, or unexplained. The purpose of the process is to examine the evidence and record the medical cause of death. In Alex Hughes's case, the evidence heard by the coroner pointed to sudden adult death syndrome.
In many cases of sudden adult death syndrome, the heart appears structurally normal during a post-mortem examination. The abnormal rhythm that causes the heart to stop is often discovered only through the personal and family medical history. This means the condition can go unnoticed for years and may claim a life with no prior warning.
