Warning: This video covers themes of suicide and depression which some may find distressing. If you are affected by this story, please visit sky.com/viewersupport
Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe took his own life after a number of years battling anxiety and depression, his family have confirmed.
Thorpe’s death at the age of 55 was announced on August 5.
The left-hander – who featured in 100 Test matches and 82 one-day internationals for England, scoring over 9,000 runs for his country, including 16 Test hundreds – initially tried to take his own life in May 2022.
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37 Comments
He did not take his own life, the completely horrific and hopeless illness took him.
Sad
I was always a West Indies cricket fan. I cheered them on at TV home and at live matches, EXCEPT when Graham Thorpe came in to bat for England. I used hope the W. indies bowlers would not bowl him out until he got at least 50 runs. It was a joy to watch him bat. Such a talent. I felt so sad to learn of his death. My heart goes out to his family.
Graham Thorpe was a fine cricketer. But in life many things can get one down. Im surprised he was good man with Nasser and all the England crew.Bless him 55 to young. His off and cover drives were as fine as any one including Gower and The Waughs. Bless him. A sad loss.🏏🇬🇧🏏
england cricket ❌
Robber's/thief cricket ✅
Sad what stress can do to humanity.
Though I never knew him, I am very sad to hear of the great Graham Thorpe's passing. My condolences to his family and friends. He was a magnificent player. An artist of the game.
You've to will yourself to over come the negative experiences that you dwell on.
Count the good times, and give God the praise for precious life that is granted to you each day.
Leave the negativity behind.
I've been there. From Trinidad.
Very sad to read. Recall all that batting! Cricket World cannot forget!
Depression? A huge problem in the affluent Western World. I recommend anyone with depression like this go to a remote village in any decent (no crime) country anywhere in the world – West or East – and stay with a family for 6 months. Do some teaching at an School. Will find that "our depression" is nothing! It will melt away!
Friends? Relatives? No one to talk to? Then talk to Strangers! Go to a different country for a change.
did he even realise what respect cricket fans had for him, he was a great player and its sad ending for his family. RIP Mr Thorpe
These are the Demons we don't see.. R.I.P my friend..😢. My heart goes out to he's family..❤
Massive respect for the family. Pressure on males can be enormous. Removing a males purpose makes them empty. I can understand when your kids leave home and you sit in silence, career in the rear view mirror dark thoughts enter your head. The pressure to provide for family is at times, overwhelming. However, the weight of no longer being needed is greater. Men in their 50s walk is silence, questioning their existence. Am sorry for the journey Graham took in his later years.
HE WAS A LEGEND LIKE BOTHAM
To who needs to hear it, please don't think that ending it is the answer.
There's hope in Jesus❤
Condolences to the family🙏🏾
Why bro , just why ? He was a fighter from the beginning I saw him. He used to dug in first and then attack the opposition . I can't believe why did he lost the will to live 😢
May his soul rest in peace and the turf lie gently upon his soul. Deepest condolences to the family, his friends and fans.
Depression is absolutely agonising, indescribable anguish. God bless this dear man and his family 🙏
😢
Rip
What people find difficult to understand is that "depression, anxiety, hatred anger, broken spirit" etc. … the list carries on… are demonic bondages people suffer from and as soon the sufferer understands this he/she can PRAY to JESUS CHRIST and ask to be set free each and every day until JESUS CHRIST redeem such a person through HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
It took me six months from starting to seek JESUS CHRIST until HE set me free from "depression, hatred anger and lust" through HIS HOLY SPIRIT inside my room. ALL GLORY and HONOR to JESUS CHRIST.
Trust me, he is a strong man for going through that and his family brave for sharing it to help others.
Very very shad
Sad… Such a legend.. 🙏
Rest in Eternal peace
RIP Thorpey. I hope he’s in a happy place now.
So tragic. Puts all the polarising nonsense of this day and age into perspective
I go to sleep almost every night hoping I don't wake up. Depression is real and it's still treated like a joke. I hope Graham is at peace now at least.
Modern Life is taking a toll on humanity.
Another victim.
My sincere thoughts and prayers for all
Condolences to the family and friends rip
Rest in peace legend
Now after hearing this tragic news and being a vivid cricket fan who still remembers GT's heroics of that famous Karachi Test victory, which he literally snatched from our side.
Every one got their mental strength to control all this what GT faced and like the way his wife has explained.
I faced it all, i cope it all and still fighting with all this, still never took any pills to cover these illnesses and never thought about taking these extreme measures which GT did..
I had first heart attack in 2012, hospitalized for 8 days. Second in 2017.
Faced a brutal Stroke in 2018 and stayed in hospital for 10 days. Had the right side completely paralysed.
My strong nerves, will to fight all and my grit brought me back to normal life.
Suffered all that anxiety, depression, loneliness, hopelessness.
But faced it all once again.
Then faced a major slip disc and stayed on bed for three months.
Recovered that as well.
One time during that Stroke period, a great great doctor who was my great younger bro's friend gave me a key advice which helps me till date when ever I get these anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
He said to me; when ever you feel all that, as it all comes through the brain, try to bring in your good memories of life, start running that reel of your good times in your imagination, start watching your time spent with family or own kids.
Till date this literally helps me… Literally
What happened with GT is so so tragic that he couldn't cope with all that.
But there are ways, human beings are the species who can take it all, but with their nerves of steel and will to survive for another day.
I have taken it all, even though for past 3 years badly struggling for work, financially and on my own, but I am still trying through in life to come out of situations.
This is curable and can be taken by neck to fight off all. Just will and sheer nerves.
Instead of causing yourself this extreme step like GT.
I never told this, never shared any where as always thought it will give the idea that I am trying to cash out my story and try to cash out myself with my sob story.
But hearing this brilliant Cricketer's tragic end just forced me to tell all that this is fightable and I am the living example.
Forgot to tell, I have lived in U.K for 8 years.
Faced unlimited amount of rejections in life. Lost jobs, still empty pockets literally, no job currently, my two freelance accounts for content writing is not even working after so many tries.
But I am still here, fighting all this and hoping that Almighty will get me out one day..
Reason for telling all this, just to tell all those people that this can be fight upon with the ways explained.
I have done it myself and see that I am writing all to tell the story of mine.
Just to help all others around who are facing all this.
Don't give up on yourself and don't just lose hope..
Suicide is the biggest cause of male deaths in UK, between the ages of 13 and 60.And Labour govt wants only to criminalise misogyny, with no mention of misandry.
His wife didn't see this coming? What was she doing?
He was great batter
Every night i go to sleep hoping I'll get it tonight but i lay and lay and watch sun rays beaming through windows announcing another day , its worse than death
So sad and disappointing
He wasn’t alone in this situation, there are so many others who suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. We must create awareness regarding mental health and break stigma around it.
SO SORRY FOR ALL FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS – THERUWAN SARANAI