What is sudden adult death syndrome after Mark Hughes’ son died suddenly aged 38

Alex Hughes passed away in June 2026.

Hughes died in June of this year, and is reported to have been found by his two sons after having collapsed in his home in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

The 38-year-old could not be revived despite the best attempts of paramedics called to the scene of his collapse, today's inquest was reportedly told.

Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), more commonly known in the UK as Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, refers to a sudden, unexpected death where a post-mortem examination finds no structural abnormalities of the heart or any other obvious cause of death.

Many cases are thought to result from an inherited heart rhythm disorder that cannot be detected during a standard post-mortem.

Affecting around 500 people in the UK every year, the charity British Heart Foundation provided the following statement to the BBC about the rare condition. They said: "[It] usually happens when a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm goes untreated and leads to a cardiac arrest," adding that inherited heart conditions are "often the cause of SADS if the person who has it doesn't know they do".

Hughes' father Mark, the former Manchester City, Stoke City, and Blackburn Rovers manager, has provided the following statement.

"Alex was a wonderful son, brother to Curtis and Xenna, devoted husband and father to Jessica and their two beautiful children Sebastian and Leonardo.

"Alex was player recruitment lead at Grimsby Town FC, and had many good friends and colleagues. He will be so deeply missed by us all." [Statement released via the League Managers Association].

Alex Hughes had a short playing career, and spent most of his time in football behind the scenes as a performance analyst, starting out in that line of work during his father's time as Blackburn manager in 2007.

Hughes worked with his father at Manchester City in 2008 and Fulham, before eventually moving abroad to work independently.