30 Jan 2012

Gary Speed’s death could have been an ‘accident’

An inquest into the death of former Wales football manager Gary Speed rules he may have killed himself accidentally.

A coroner has ruled former Wales football manager Gary Speed may have killed himself accidentally. Speed, who played for Sheffield United, Everton, Newcastle, Leeds and Bolton, was found hanging at his Cheshire home on 27 November last year by his wife Louise.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg gave the cause of death as hanging but said “the evidence does not sufficiently determine whether this was intentional or accidental”.

Following the inquest, Gary Speed’s family said his death was one of the darkest days of their lives, adding that they had sought solace in the support offered from family and friends.

Fellow football pundit and former England international Alan Shearer sent a statement to the inquest, reports Channel 4 News North of England Correspondent Morland Sanders.
Shearer told the inquest that Gary Speed “had appeared fine” when they chatted after their television appearance together but that Speed had confided to him that there were ‘issues’ in his marriage, issues he said he was going to work through.

The inquest at Warrington Coroner’s Court heard that Speed texted his wife days before his death and “talked in terms of taking his life”. The couple also “had words” on the night before he was found dead after they had been to a dinner party at a friend’s house.

However, Mr Rheinberg said on Monday, in a narrative verdict, that the football manager may have “nodded off” while sitting with a rope around his neck on the stairs in his garage.

Gary’s death and the manner of it, made Sunday 27th November 2011 the worst day of our lives. Speed family statement

In a statement they also thanked the Football Association of Wales for supporting the family after the death, and have arranged a memorial match against Costa Rica in his honour.

The statement said: “Gary’s death and the manner of it, made Sunday 27th November 2011 the worst day of our lives. Throughout the nine weeks since, there have been some very dark moments, which we have all had to find our own different ways to endure.

“Now, we have to adapt to the future without a husband, a father, a brother and a son; but Gary’s memory shines brightly in our thoughts and we will forever remember the wonderful times we shared with him and the deep love and affection he offered so freely within our close knit family.”