The cricketing world is mourning the loss of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe, who tragically took his own life after a prolonged battle with severe depression and anxiety. Thorpe, who was 55, passed away on August 5, 2024, leaving behind a legacy as one of England’s finest batsmen. His wife, Amanda Thorpe, has spoken out about his struggles and the impact of his mental health on their family.
SOURCE : ZEE
Graham Thorpe was a stalwart of the England cricket team, known for his elegant batting and resilience at the crease. Over his career, he played 100 Test matches and 82 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for England, amassing over 9,000 runs, including 16 Test centuries1. His contributions to the sport were immense, and he was revered by fans and teammates alike.
Source:- BBC news
Despite his success on the field, Thorpe faced significant challenges off it. Amanda Thorpe revealed that her husband had been battling severe depression and anxiety for several years. “For the past couple of years, Graham had been suffering from major depression and anxiety. This led him to make a serious attempt on his life in May 2022, which resulted in a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit,” she shared2.
Amanda described the heartbreaking reality of Thorpe’s mental health struggles. “Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not get better. He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him. We are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life,” she said2.
The Thorpe family is now grappling with the loss of a beloved husband and father. Amanda and their two daughters have expressed their grief and the profound impact of Thorpe’s death. “He had loved life and loved us but couldn’t see a way out. He was not the same person. It was strange to see this person trapped in the body of Dad,” said their eldest daughter, Kitty3.
The family is determined to raise awareness about mental health issues and the importance of seeking help. “We are not ashamed of talking about it. There is nothing to hide and it is not a stigma. This is the time now to share the news, however horrible it is. We’ve wanted to be able to talk and share and we’d now like to raise awareness, too,” Kitty added3.
The cricketing community has come together to pay tribute to Thorpe. Former teammates and cricketing legends have expressed their sorrow and shared memories of Thorpe’s contributions to the sport. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) described him as “more than one of England’s finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world”4.
England batter Joe Root, a former captain of the national side, described Thorpe as a “hero, mentor and so much more.” Michael Vaughan, another ex-England skipper, thanked Thorpe “for all the advice throughout my career” and praised him as a “great player and a brilliant team-mate”4.
In the wake of Thorpe’s passing, his family is considering launching a foundation in his name to raise awareness about mental health issues. They hope to honor his memory by helping others who may be struggling with similar challenges. “Mental illness is a real disease and can affect anyone. We supported him as a family and he tried many, many treatments but unfortunately none of them really seemed to work,” Amanda said5.
The Thorpe family’s openness about their experience aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage those in need to seek help. “We were trying to help him get better before and trying to protect him, which is why we said nothing. This is the time now to share the news, however horrible it is,” Amanda concluded5.
As the cricketing world remembers Graham Thorpe for his remarkable achievements on the field, his family’s courage in speaking out about his struggles serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and support.
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