An emotional inquest into the death of boxing legend Ricky Hatton has laid bare the final days of the much-loved fighter, with deeply personal testimonies from his family and closest friends painting a picture of a man quietly struggling behind the scenes.

The former world champion, who was found at his £1.7million home in Hyde on September 14 last year aged 46, was discovered unresponsive in his games room by his long-time manager and friend Paul Speak after he failed to show up for a scheduled trip.

Paul told the court he found Ricky’s body cold, with the television still on and an open bottle of wine nearby — a haunting scene that would mark the end of a life lived at full throttle.

A toxicology report revealed that Ricky had alcohol levels in his system equivalent to more than twice the legal drink-drive limit at the time of his death. While there was evidence of prior cocaine use, the court heard there was no indication he had taken the substance in the hours leading up to his passing.

But it was the words of his mother, Carol, that truly broke the silence in the courtroom.

Recalling the last time she saw her son just two days before his death, she said they had spoken about his future — including a potential return to boxing and plans to sell his home. Yet something felt off. She told the court that as they talked, his “eyes were sad”, and described their final embrace as so tight it “almost broke my ribs”.

His son Campbell also gave a touching statement, insisting the family believed his father’s death “wasn’t premeditated”. He revealed that despite ongoing mental health struggles and past battles with alcohol, Ricky had seemed to be in a good place — even looking forward to upcoming trips to Dubai and Thailand.

Campbell said his father was “very happy” and “always generous”, though the family had noticed a worrying decline in his short-term memory in recent years, including moments of confusion and forgetfulness.

Meanwhile, his ex-partner Jennifer Dooley shared the devastating impact his loss has had on their two daughters. She described Ricky as a proud and devoted father who never missed sports days and loved spending time with his girls — often dancing with them and taking them out for dinner.

She said his death has left a “significant hole” in their lives, adding that the girls have lost a “fun-loving daddy”.

As the inquest continues, the court also heard that Ricky had been making positive plans for the future, with his daughters excited to see him step back into the ring once again.

Yet behind the optimism, those closest to him now reflect on subtle signs that something wasn’t quite right — a quiet sadness, a fading memory, and a final hug that, in hindsight, meant far more than anyone could have known.