Alex Hughes, the son of former Manchester United and Wales footballer Mark Hughes, died from sudden adult death syndrome after collapsing at his home in Cheshire, a coroner has concluded.
The 38-year-old was found unresponsive at his home in Macclesfield on June 19 by his two sons. Emergency services attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner recorded his death as resulting from natural causes.
Alex Hughes worked as the player recruitment lead at English football club Grimsby Town, which he joined in 2025. The club described his death as sudden and tragic and postponed several activities to allow staff members time to mourn.
He had earlier pursued a brief playing career with clubs including Stockport County and Wrexham before moving into performance analysis, scouting and recruitment. His career included roles at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fulham, where he worked during periods when his father was manager.
Mark Hughes and his wife, Jill, said they were devastated by the unexpected loss of their son. In a family statement, they remembered Alex as a devoted husband and father, a much-loved son and brother, and a respected figure within professional football.
Grimsby Town head coach David Artell also paid tribute to Hughes, describing him as a good and highly valued colleague. He said Alex had made a significant contribution to the club’s recruitment work and had formed strong relationships with staff members.
Sudden adult death syndrome, also known as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, is diagnosed when a person dies following a cardiac arrest but a post-mortem examination cannot identify a structural cause because the heart appears normal. The British Heart Foundation says the condition affects about 500 people in the United Kingdom each year.
The condition is often associated with a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm, sometimes caused by an undiagnosed inherited heart disorder. In some cases, relatives of the deceased may be advised to undergo specialist cardiac assessment because certain rhythm disorders can run in families.
Alex Hughes is survived by his wife, Jessica, their two sons, Sebastian and Leonardo, his parents and his siblings. His death prompted tributes from football clubs, former players and colleagues across the English game.
The coroner’s finding formally establishes the medical classification of his death, while his family and Grimsby Town continue to mourn his sudden loss.
