Thorpe's family confirm he took his own life

Amanda Thorpe, the wife of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe, has disclosed that her husband took his own life after enduring a prolonged struggle with depression and anxiety. At the age of 55, Thorpe's passing in August left the cricket community in deep sorrow for the beloved athlete.

Thorpe had a distinguished career as a graceful batsman for England from 1993 to 2005, subsequently dedicating 12 years to various coaching positions. However, he was hospitalized in May 2022 and was reported to be "seriously ill."

In a recent interview with The Times, Amanda revealed that the former Surrey player had attempted suicide two years prior to his death. "Despite having a loving wife and two daughters, he could not find a way to recover.

He was profoundly unwell in recent times and genuinely believed that we would be better off without him. We are heartbroken that he acted on this belief and took his own life," she stated.

"For the last couple of years, Graham battled severe depression and anxiety, which culminated in a serious suicide attempt in May 2022, leading to an extended stay in intensive care."

Throughout his career, the left-handed batsman participated in 100 Test matches and 82 one-day internationals for England, amassing over 9,000 runs, including 16 centuries in Test cricket. Despite the unwavering support from his family and medical professionals, he could not conquer his mental health challenges.

"Although there were moments of hope and glimpses of the old Graham, he continued to grapple with severe depression and anxiety. We stood by him as a family, and he underwent numerous treatments, but regrettably, none proved effective," Amanda Thorpe remarked.

"Graham was known for his mental fortitude on the field and maintained good physical health. However, mental illness is a genuine affliction that can impact anyone."