Alex Hughes, the 38-year-old son of former Manchester United and Wales striker Mark Hughes, died from sudden adult death syndrome, a coroner has concluded.

Area coroner Victoria Davies recorded the cause of death as Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) at an inquest held at Cheshire Coroner's Court, concluding it was due to natural causes (Telegraph).

Alex Hughes was found collapsed in his bedroom at his home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on 19 June by his two sons. Paramedics could not revive him, the inquest heard (BBC News).

SADS — sometimes called sudden arrhythmic syndrome — is diagnosed when a post-mortem examination cannot establish a cause of death because the heart appears structurally normal. According to the British Heart Foundation, it usually occurs when a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm goes untreated and triggers a cardiac arrest. Inherited heart conditions are often the underlying cause, particularly when the person is unaware they have one. The condition affects roughly 500 people in the UK each year (BBC News).

Alex Hughes followed his father into football, though not onto the pitch in the same spotlight. He built a career in player recruitment — the work of identifying and signing talent for clubs — holding roles at Manchester City, Grimsby Town, and other clubs. He joined Grimsby as player recruitment lead in 2025 (Guardian).

Mark Hughes, 62, is a two-time Premier League winner who played for Manchester United, Barcelona, and Chelsea during a decorated career before moving into management. At Alex's funeral, the former striker carried his son's coffin (BBC News).

In a statement following Alex's death, Mark Hughes and his wife Jill said they were "totally heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved son." A tribute at the funeral read: "Alex, thank you for giving us the privilege of being your mum and dad" (BBC News).

What makes SADS so difficult to process is its silence. There is no illness to track, no warning to heed in many cases — a person can appear perfectly healthy and still be carrying an undiagnosed inherited heart condition. The British Heart Foundation urges anyone with a family history of unexplained sudden death, particularly in relatives under 50, to seek screening. For a family already grieving, that advice carries a particular weight.