Mark Hughes' son died of sudden adult death syndrome

The son of former Manchester United footballer Mark Hughes died from sudden adult death syndrome, a coroner has found.

Alex Hughes was found collapsed at his home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on 19 June by his two sons.

The 38-year-old, who followed his ex-Wales international father into football and held roles in recruitment at Grimsby Town, Manchester City and other clubs, could not be revived by paramedics, his inquest heard.

Following his death, Mark Hughes and his wife Jill said they were “totally heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved son”.

Sudden adult death syndrome (SADS) – also known as sudden arrhythmic syndrome – is diagnosed when the cause of death cannot be explained in a post-mortem examination because the structure of the heart appears normal.

It affects about 500 people in the UK every year.

The British Heart Foundation said SADS “usually happens when a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm goes untreated and leads to a cardiac arrest”.

The foundation added that inherited heart conditions are “often the cause of SADS if the person who has it doesn’t know they do”.

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Mark Hughes said he and his wife Jill were “devastated” by Alex’s death [PA Media]

In a statement released through the League Managers Association, former Manchester City, Stoke and Blackburn manager Hughes said: “Alex was a wonderful son, brother to Curtis and Xenna, devoted husband and father to Jessica and their two beautiful children Sebastian and Leonardo.

“Alex was player recruitment lead at Grimsby Town FC, and had many good friends and colleagues. He will be so deeply missed by us all.”

Alex Hughes had a brief playing career, on the books of Stockport and Wrexham, before joining Blackburn in 2007, working as a performance analyst during his father’s time as manager.

He then followed his father to Manchester City in 2008 and worked with him again at Fulham before forging his own path abroad.

The club’s head coach David Artell described him as “just such a good guy”, adding: “Life can be really cruel.”

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