A coroner has ruled that the son of former Manchester United player Mark Hughes died from sudden adult death syndrome (SADS).
Alex Hughes, 38, was discovered collapsed at his home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on 19 June by his two sons. He had pursued a career in football like his father, working in recruitment at Grimsby Town, Manchester City and other clubs. Paramedics were unable to revive him, the inquest heard.
In a statement after his death, Mark Hughes and his wife, Jill, said they were devastated by the sudden and unexpected loss of their beloved son.
SADS, also known as sudden arrhythmic syndrome, is diagnosed when a post-mortem cannot identify a cause because the heart appears structurally normal. It affects about 500 people in the UK each year.
According to the British Heart Foundation, SADS typically occurs when a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm goes untreated, leading to cardiac arrest. Inherited heart conditions are often the cause, particularly when the person is unaware they have one.