Mark Hughes and his family suffered an unimaginable tragedy after the sudden death of his son, Alex Hughes. New findings later confirmed the 38-year-old football executive died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, a rare condition that often strikes without warning.
The heartbreaking update followed an inquest into Alex’s unexpected death earlier this summer.
Mark Hughes’ son died at 38 from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, according to reports
The inquest heard that Alex collapsed inside his home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on June 19. His two young sons found him in his bedroom around 7 a.m. and immediately sought help.
According to the hearing, Alex’s eldest son performed CPR before paramedics arrived. Despite their efforts, they could not revive him.
Area Coroner Victoria Davies ruled that Alex died from sudden adult death syndrome, also known as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. She concluded his death resulted from natural causes, according to the BBC.
The condition occurs when someone suffers a fatal abnormal heart rhythm despite having a structurally normal heart. The British Heart Foundation explained that inherited heart conditions often cause SADS when people remain unaware they have them.
Following Alex’s death, Mark Hughes and his wife, Jill, shared a heartfelt family statement. They said they were “totally heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved son,” according to the BBC.
Alex built a respected football career away from his father’s enormous shadow. After a brief playing spell in Wales, he moved into recruitment and performance analysis.
He worked for Blackburn before joining Manchester City as a scout. Alex later held football operations roles with Fulham, 1860 Munich, Reading, AFC Fylde, Morecambe, and most recently Grimsby Town, where he led player recruitment.
Family, friends, and football figures gathered last month to celebrate his life. Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson attended the funeral alongside Bryan Robson, Ryan Giggs, Mike Phelan, Martin Edwards, and Grimsby Town representatives.
Alex also left behind his wife, Jess, whom he met during their school years, and their two sons, Sebastian and Leonardo.
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