Graham Thorpe’s wife Amanda has revealed the former England batsman committed suicide due to depression and anxiety.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced Thorpe’s death at the age of 55 on August 5, with tributes pouring in for one of the country’s best Test players. Thorpe was a mainstay in the England squad for most of his life, first as a player between 1993 and 2005 and then in various coaching roles for 12 years, but he was hospitalized in May 2022 and was When he was declared “seriously ill”.
Speaking to The Times, Amanda Thorpe revealed that Thorpe tried to take her own life two years ago and did so earlier this month.
“Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved dearly and whom he loved dearly, his condition was not getting better. He had been very unwell recently and he truly believed that we would be better off without him, and we felt sorry for him Shocked that he did this and took his own life,” she said. “Over the past few years, Graham had suffered from severe depression and anxiety. This led to him making a serious attempt in May 2022, resulting in a lengthy stay in intensive care.
Despite seeing glimpses of Hope and the old Graham, he still suffered from depression and anxiety, sometimes quite severe. We as a family supported him and he tried many, many treatments, but unfortunately, none of them really worked. Graham is known for his mental toughness on the court, as well as his physical fitness. But mental illness is a real illness that can affect anyone.
Thorpe’s daughter Kitty explained why the family were prepared to share news of his mental health issues. She added: “We’re not ashamed to talk about it. There’s nothing to hide and there’s no shame.
“We have been trying to help him recover and trying to protect him, which is why we have said nothing. Now is the time to share this news, no matter how horrific it is. We have always wanted to be able to talk and share, and now we want to Raise awareness.
