There were 'failings' in care of ex-England cricketer Graham Thorpe in months before he died, coroner says
It comes as Coroner Jonathan Stevens recorded a conclusion of suicide at an inquest into his death in August last year.
Thorpe died at a railway station in Surrey after being struck by a train.
Mr Stevens read a statement yesterday during the inquest from Thorpe's GP, Joan Munnelly, detailing the cricketer was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018.
Speaking on Friday, the coroner said that the last time Thorpe was seen in person by healthcare professionals was on 20 March 2024.
"In my judgment there were shortcomings in the care that should have been provided to Graham in the last four months or so of his life," he told the court.
Mr Stevens then added that "there were failings in the provision of his care," but said he cannot, on the evidence, conclude that the failures were gross - and so he cannot conclude that Thorpe would not have died if it were not for the failures.
"It's clear there were shortcomings in his care," he continued. "If he had been seen in those last four months, particularly after that incident on 28 June, I cannot say whether it would or would not have made any difference."
Regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation, Thorpe played 100 Tests for England, scoring 16 centuries and featuring 82 times for the ODI side.
He coached England's batters and had a 17-year career with Surrey.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the latest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Here's why teens don't belong on dating apps
Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her book 'Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back' was published in 2024 by Alcove Press. Teenagers are using dating apps more than we previously knew, according to research published this week in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. The study found that 23.5% of teens ages 13 through 18 used dating apps over a six-month period, which is more than past estimates. The study is believed to be the first to track how teens use dating apps by recording their keyboard activity rather than relying on self-reports, according to the researchers. The study found that teens who used dating apps didn't generally have more symptoms of mental health challenges after six months than those who didn't. However, those who used dating apps frequently were more likely to have symptoms of major depressive disorders. 'This study showed some support for dating app users having greater depressive symptoms and greater engagement in risky behaviors,' said Lilian Li, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and the study's lead author. It's unclear whether that's because the dating app users were harmed on the apps through things such as exposure to harassment or risky behaviors, Li said, or whether those who were depressed used dating apps because they had trouble connecting with others. Li cautioned that the study was small — it included 149 teens in the United States, 35 of whom used dating apps. And because it only tracked keyboard entries, it wasn't able to measure things such as lurking or liking and disliking profiles. There's still reason for parents to be concerned, because dating apps could also be harming kids in other ways. That's why, when I speak to parents and students about how to handle kids' use of apps, I suggest that teenagers not use online dating platforms at all. One reason I don't think teens belong on dating apps is because they're dangerous. Researchers have warned that registered sex offenders freely use online dating sites. Online dating particularly raises the risk of teens being catfished, manipulated into an emotional relationship with someone using an assumed identity. That creates the opportunity for the other person to convince the teen to share an intimate image, which can then be used for financial extortion or to pressure the victim into further exploitation. These risks make dating apps dangerous for adults but even more so for teenagers, because the teenage brain is wired to accept greater risks in the pursuit of rewards, according to the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent. That's why it didn't surprise me that the new research found that teens who engaged in other risky behaviors, such as using substances and breaking rules, were more likely to use dating apps. We can't expect teenagers to consider that the person they think is their new boyfriend or girlfriend might actually be an adult cybercriminal. Teens also can't be expected to think through the potential consequences if they decide to meet up in person with someone they connected with online. 'Minors are not permitted on our dating apps, full stop,' said a spokesperson for the Match Group, which owns Tinder, the most-used dating app among teens in the study. 'Our platforms are for adults 18 and older, and we deploy industry-leading technology and human oversight to keep underage users off them. Our brands deploy sophisticated safety tools including AI-powered age verification, ID verification, and device blocking, as well as human moderators to proactively detect and remove minors and bad actors. 'We work with longstanding partners like THORN to enhance safety measures and, this year, supported the founding of ROOST, a nonprofit focused on building scalable tools for child safety. We continue to invest in cutting-edge tools, technology, and partnerships to help ensure our platforms remain safe for the communities we serve.' The spokesperson also noted that the Match Group offers a safety tool to conduct background checks on users and that the statistics in the new research include social discovery apps, which are different from dating apps. The problem is not just that dating apps are dangerous, which they can be. They can also send the wrong signals to young people about human relationships. If you want to establish and maintain a relationship with someone in person, you generally have to learn things like how to have a two-way conversation, show consideration for the other person and even resolve disagreements that might come up. These are all skills that teens need to practice and which will serve them well in many aspects of their lives. They'll not only help youth deal with people such as future professors and employers but will likely make them happier over the long run. Close relationships are even more important for our happiness than things such as money or fame and are also important to our health, Harvard University researchers found in one of the longest studies of adults ever conducted. In interviews for my book, people told me they felt dating app users invest less in the relationships they form with their 'matches' because the apps convey the impression that there are always more people available to swipe on. 'If someone upsets you for the smallest reason, you can go to a dating app and find someone else,' one woman told me. So teens are learning they can walk away from dating apps feeling like romantic partners are easily obtained and let go, rather than learning to refine skills to maintain close offline relationships. To start conversations about these concerns, parents should check in with teens on whether they're using or want to use dating apps. If teens say yes, it's an opportunity to consider how they can meet their needs in other ways. For example, if teens are lonely or want to find a romantic partner, one of the best things we can do is let them get together with peers in person. They can connect with friends and even potential romantic partners who share similar interests by signing up for extracurricular activities. It is also an important way of helping teens feel like they matter, which is one of the best means for promoting well-being. The new study found that dating apps may give teens who are sexual and gender minorities in their communities ways of making valuable social connections. It would be even better, however, for parents to explore how such teens can make those connections by meeting up with the kinds of people they want to know face-to-face. Some teens may also want to use dating apps because some platforms have suggested they have algorithms that can match people with their soulmates — or at least compatible romantic partners. However, decades of research tells us this isn't possible, because it turns out that people's personality traits don't actually predict whether they'll do well as a couple. Still, 30% of Americans have used a dating app or site at some point, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, so it's possible that your teen will find a way to evade your rules against using them now or will use one in the future. That's why you should talk to teens about how to stay safe on dating apps if they do use them at any point in their lives. I recommend video chatting with people before meeting up in person to confirm that they appear to be who they say they are, meeting in public places, telling loved ones where you're meeting, telling the person you're meeting that your loved ones know where you are, and not being alone with someone until you're confident you can trust them. I know parents think their children would never use a dating app or go meet a stranger they only know online. But since this new research suggests teens are using these apps more than parents may realize, it's best to be prepared. Whether teens are just breaking your rules or getting into trouble online, they are missing out on learning to establish healthy relationships face-to-face. That's why parents should talk to teens now about these concerns, helping them get their dating lives started on the right track instead of merely swiping right.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
AstraZeneca's (AZN) Dividend: Resilient, Predictable, and Built on Innovation
AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK. A pharmacy worker distributing prescription medicines to patientsreceiving treatment for oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolism and respiratory diseases. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is well-positioned to handle upcoming patent expirations, thanks to a robust pipeline of drugs in development. By the close of the first quarter, the company had gained approval or label updates for roughly 13 treatments. Two of its most notable experimental drugs, AZD5004 and AZD6234, show potential in the weight management space. In total, the company is advancing nearly 200 research programs across its development pipeline. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) recently announced plans to invest $50 billion in the US by 2030. This initiative is expected to generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs nationwide. A key part of the investment includes the development of a new multi-billion-dollar manufacturing site in the US, which will focus on producing drug substances for its weight management and metabolic treatments—such as oral GLP-1, baxdrostat, oral PCSK9, and combination small molecule therapies. This commitment comes on top of the $3.5 billion investment the company revealed in November 2024. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is a solid dividend payer, as it has paid uninterrupted dividends to shareholders for the past 32 years. The company offers an interim dividend of $1.03 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.13%, as of July 25. While we acknowledge the potential of AZN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
West Midlands Ambulance Service shares 5 things you should do after calling 999
Nobody wants to call 999, but if you do need help in an emergency, there are a few things you should know. West Midlands Ambulance Service has issued advice to anyone dialling 999 for medical help. According to the ambulance service, there were five things people should do after making the call. READ MORE: Dad diagnosed with cancer after friend notices worrying symptom The first instruction applied to people who were outdoors with patients. If this were the case, the caller should stay with the patient until help arrived. The second piece of advice was to keep a close eye on the patient - and to call 999 back straight away if their condition worsens. The third tip was to lock away any pets if paramedics were coming to a family home. People should also ensure that medics can easily identify the property they are attending. To assist crews, put lights on if it is dark, and if possible, send someone outside to wave them down. The fifth and final tip was to write down the patient's GP details and collect any medication they are taking to hand over to medics. Stay up-to-date by following our Twitter feed @birmingham_live or liking our Facebook page. To get breaking news emailed to you, sign up here, it's free.
