Man who discovered Ricky Hattons body calls for | Boxing News

Ricky Hatton, one of Britain’s most iconic and beloved sportsmen, was given a heartfelt farewell on Friday, practically a month after his tragic death. His supervisor, Paul Speak, discovered him lifeless at his home in Greater Manchester, main to an outpouring of grief from hundreds who lined the streets to pay their respects.

The world of sport was left reeling when news of Hatton’s death broke on September 14. The boxer was a national treasure, adored by followers across the nation.

An inquest into his death has yet to be held, but Speak, who discovered Hatton, is adamant that he needs “the truth to come out”. He firmly believes that Hatton “did not intend to do it”.

Speak had gone to Hatton’s home to accompany him to the airport for a flight to Dubai. He told Boxing News magazine: “The lights weren’t on, which I thought was strange. I thought he’d overslept, but it’s not unusual. People do oversleep. So, I went inside – I have a key – shouting, ‘Rick, Rick, wake up!’

“I heard music coming from upstairs, so I went upstairs… I took a look at him… I had to take some time to course of it.

“I was in a state of shock and confusion and loss and many more emotions. Then I called the police and the ambulance.

“But I firmly consider he did not intend to do it. It’s for the coroner to decide, but he had it all to live for.”

Speak insisted that Hatton was “in a actually good place” before his untimely death at 46, and had been making numerous plans. This sentiment is echoed by other family members and friends despite his previous mental health struggles.

He added: “He’d organized to take his daughters to see Oasis next week. He was planning to go to Thailand for the WBC conference and a vacation after his struggle. He’d just booked a flight to Tenerife for Christmas.

“I want to get the truth out, otherwise people will just speculate.

“There’s been a lot of garbage written about Ricky and his mother and father, but he’d seen his mum just last week; gave her a big hug and some love.

“He was going to see his dad after getting back from Dubai.

“His daughters had never seen him box, so he was excited for that. So many issues for him to live for – he was in a actually good place.”

Hatton had previously spoken candidly about his struggles with mental health and Paul admitted his friend’s death wouldn’t have come as “such a shock” had it occurred a decade earlier.

He said: “If this was 10 years in the past, it would not have been as big a shock as it was.

“I’ve been with Ricky to the very highest mountains in boxing to the lowest chasm in life.”