Mark Hughes' son died of sudden adult death syndrome

What the report says

A coroner has found that Alex Hughes, the son of former Manchester United and Wales footballer Mark Hughes, died from sudden adult death syndrome. BBC Sport Football reported that the 38-year-old was discovered collapsed at his home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on 19 June by his two sons, and could not be revived by paramedics.

Alex Hughes worked in football rather than as a player at senior level, taking on recruitment and analysis roles at clubs including Grimsby Town, Manchester City, Blackburn and Fulham. The BBC said he had joined Grimsby in 2025 as player recruitment lead. Grimsby head coach David Artell paid tribute to him, describing him as a good person and saying the loss was cruel.

Mark Hughes and his wife Jill said they were devastated by the sudden death of their son. Through the League Managers Association, Hughes said Alex was a devoted husband and father and would be deeply missed by family, friends and colleagues. The BBC also provided general context on SADS, noting that it is diagnosed when no clear cause is found in a post-mortem and that it is linked to dangerous heart rhythm problems. The case underlines how unexpectedly SADS can affect adults, even when no prior heart issue has been identified.