Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe has taken his own life after battling depression and anxiety, fuelled by ill health over the past two years, his wife Amanda has revealed. The 55-year-old passed away on 5 August. Thorpe’s death was announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board and now his wife has revealed in an interview with former England captain Michael Atherton that he had a long mental and physical battle with himself before taking his own life.
“Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not improve,” Thorpe’s wife told The Times.
“He had been very unwell of late and I genuinely believed we would be better off without him and we are devastated by his attitude and his suicide.” A memorial service was held for Thorpe last Saturday before the start of a match between Farnham Cricket Club and Chipstead Cricket Club, attended by his wife and daughters Kitty (22) and Emma (19).
“Over the past few years, Graham had suffered from severe depression and anxiety. This led him to attempt suicide in May 2022, resulting in a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit,” she said. His wife revealed that despite his work assignments, Thorpe continued to suffer.
“Despite the glimmers of hope and 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 work,” she said.
The report added that the family is now considering setting up a foundation in his name. Thorpe’s daughter Kitty said that after a while he was “not the same person” and that she “didn’t see a way out”.
“He had loved life and he loved us, but he didn’t see a way out. It was heartbreaking to see how withdrawn he had become,” she said.
“It was strange to see this person trapped in Dad’s body. That’s why we were so glad that a lot of the reflections were about his life before this disease took over.
“I’m glad that’s how everyone remembers him, and rightly so, as the complete character that he was,” Kitty added.
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