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On August 5, the cricketing world was shaken by the news of Graham Thorpe’s death at the age of 55. The former England cricketer, renowned for his batting prowess, had been battling severe depression and anxiety. His widow, Amanda Thorpe, has now revealed that Graham took his own life, despite his love for his family and his ongoing struggle with mental illness.
Amanda Thorpe’s heartfelt account
Amanda shared the profound impact of Graham’s struggles, emphasizing the deep pain his death has caused. She described how, despite his love for his wife and two daughters, Graham felt overwhelmed by his mental health challenges. “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, and we are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life,” Amanda told to Michael Atherton in the Times.
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Graham Thorpe’s battle with mental illness
Thorpe’s wife detailed his ongoing battle with depression and anxiety, which had led to a serious suicide attempt in May 2022. Despite receiving extensive treatment and showing some signs of recovery, Thorpe continued to struggle with his mental health.
Amanda recounted, “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. Despite glimpses of hope, he continued to suffer.”
Tributes and personal memories
The cricketing community has been inundated with tributes to Thorpe, and a ceremony was held in Farnham to honor his memory. Amanda Thorpe also shared a cherished personal memory, contrasting with the public persona of her husband. She recalled, “Graham was a free spirit. My favourite memory of him is in Barbados, enjoying a rum punch and listening to his favourite reggae after a swim. He was handsome, so handsome. He was funny and he made us all laugh so much.”
