The circumstances surrounding the death of British boxing legend Ricky Hatton will be made public in the coming days, with the first inquest into his tragic death taking place next week. Hatton was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on Sunday, September 14, and the devastating news sent shockwaves through the sporting world and prompted an outpouring of tributes from some of boxing’s biggest names.

His funeral took place on Friday, with thousands of mourners taking to the streets of Manchester to pay tribute to his burial. Renowned faces were in attendance including Tyson Fury, Liam Gallagher, Wayne and Coleen Rooney and Hatton’s ex-girlfriend Claire Sweeney.

While the former world champion’s cause of death has not been publicly revealed, details surrounding his death will now be known as police – who do not consider his death suspicious – have referred the case to the coroner.

An inquest has now been formally scheduled to begin and a hearing will take place at South Manchester Coroner’s Court in Stockport on Thursday, October 16 at 9am. The low administrative hearing will be chaired by senior county coroner Alison Mutch.

Opening an inquest usually involves hearing evidence about the identity of the deceased along with brief circumstances surrounding his or her death. The coroner then determines whether a full inquest is necessary and sets dates for any required future hearings.

The ruling came after Hatton’s friend and manager, Paul Speak, recalled finding the former boxer’s body at his Manchester home and revealing the “truth” about what happened to him.

Speak, who arrived at Hatton’s home to take him to the airport, told Boxing News: ‘The lights weren’t on, which I found strange.

“I thought he had overslept, but that’s not unusual. People are sleeping. So I went inside – I have the key – shouting, ‘Rick, Rick, wake up! I heard music coming from upstairs, so I went upstairs… I looked at him… I had to take some time to process it.’

“I was in shock, confusion, loss and many other emotions,” he added. “I then called the police and an ambulance. But I firmly believe he had no intention of doing that. It’s for the coroner to determine that, but he had something to live for.”

Insisting that Hatton was “in a really good place” before his sudden death, Speak continued: “He had arranged to take his daughters to the Oasis show next week. He was planning to go to Thailand for the WBC convention and vacation after his fight.”

“He has just booked a flight to Tenerife for Christmas. I want to reveal the truth otherwise people will just speculate.”

At Hatton’s funeral, his children remembered their slow father in a series of heartbreaking speeches, and his 13-year-old daughter Millie asked him: “Why haven’t you reached out?”

Paying tribute in front of a packed Manchester cathedral, she reportedly said: “Why did you feel like that? Why didn’t you contact us to tell us how you felt?”

“I can’t lend a hand but think that you will never walk me down the aisle, that you will never meet my children and grandchildren, that you will never be here to see me leave school or even grow up.

“I hope you never think you’ve let me down, because I would never think that. I love and miss you unconditionally.”