Joe McConnell
Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe took his own life after years of battling anxiety and depression, his family have confirmed.
Thorpe’s death, at the age of 55, was announced on August 5.
The left-hander, who played 100 Test matches and 82 one-day internationals for England, scoring over 9,000 runs for his country, including 16 Test hundreds, initially attempted suicide in May 2022.
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A look back at Graham Thorpe’s career after his death
His wife Amanda told Michael Atherton in The times: “Even though he had a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not improve.
“He had been so sick lately and truly believed we would be better off without him and we are devastated that he acted on it and took his own life.
“For the past two years Graham had been suffering from severe depression and anxiety.
“This led him to make a serious attempt on his life in May 2022, which ended with a long stay in intensive care.
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England Test captain Ben Stokes reflected on Thorpe’s passing after his death was announced
“Despite glimpses of hope and memories of old Graham, he continued to suffer from depression and anxiety, which at times became very severe.
“We supported him as a family and he tried many, many treatments, but unfortunately none of them seemed to really work.
“Graham was known for being a very mentally tough guy on the field and was in good physical health. But mental illness is a real illness and can affect anyone.”
“He loved life and he loved us, but he couldn’t see a way out”
The family now plans to create a foundation in Graham’s memory.
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Thorpe’s former teammates Dominic Cork and Mark Butcher have paid emotional tribute to the late cricketer
Graham and Amanda’s eldest daughter Kitty, 22, said: “We’re not ashamed to talk about it. There’s nothing to hide and it’s not a stigma.
“This is the time to share the news, as horrible as it is. We wanted to be able to talk and share and now we would also like to raise awareness.
“He had loved life and he had loved us, but he couldn’t see a way out. He wasn’t the same person anymore.
“It was strange to see this person trapped in Dad’s body. That’s why we were so happy that so many reflections were on his life before this disease took over.
“I’m glad everyone remembers him like this, rightly so, as the complete character he was.”
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Former England captain David Gower praised Thorpe’s “determination and will to win”
His wife Amanda added: “Graham was a free spirit. My favourite memory of him is in Barbados, which he loved, enjoying a rum punch and listening to his favourite reggae after a swim.
“He was beautiful, so beautiful. He was funny and made us all laugh so much.”
Regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, Thorpe turned to coaching after retiring in 2005, serving as England batting coach between 2010 and 2022.
Thorpe was appointed head coach of Afghanistan in March 2022, but did not take the job due to poor health.
If you are affected by these problems or want to talk about them, contact the Samaritans on the toll-free number 116 123 or visit the website www.samaritans.org
