Richard James HILL · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 10 May 2022 I commenced an investigation into the death of Richard James HILL, referred to as Richard for the purposes of the inquest, aged 24. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13 March 2023. The conclusion of the inquest was that Richard’s death was alcohol related.

Richard died on 30 April 2022 at a sports and recreation club where his rugby club was holding its annual awards ceremony. Richard had been drinking alcohol all day and at the event and by 21:23 when he collected his trophy he was clearly showing the effects of alcohol inebriation and this was apparent to people at the event, including club members. About thirty minutes later he was unable to walk and had reduced responsiveness and he had to be carried to an outside bench. When it was realised that he was possibly critically unwell an ambulance was called, although medically trained attendees at the club vent had started to provide resuscitative interventions, including use of a defibrillator which identified there was no shockable rhythm. Paramedics attended but intensive resuscitation was sadly unable to revive Richard and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Richard was known to drink heavily when out with friends and at social events. The court heard evidence from Richard's brother that Richard's alcohol consumption appeared to increase following the death of a close friend in January 2022.

After Richard's death, as part of post-mortem examination, blood and urine samples were sent for toxicological testing. Toxicology identified a very high level of alcohol in Richard's system, at a level capable of causing death due to alcohol toxicity. Cocaine was also identified in Richard's system but was not considered to be contributory to his death.

The inquest heard evidence that some people, probably including Richard, were drinking alcohol from trophy cups at the rugby club event and that these were being topped up by various people in the course of the evening, such that the trophy cups containing mixed drinks. Post-mortem toxicological analysis of Richard’s blood and urine demonstrated a toxic level of alcohol in his system, and he had been drinking alcohol all day, including prior to the event.

The inquest heard evidence that excess alcohol consumption is likely a problem across all male sports. The rugby club had received educative/campaign material from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on issues including mental health but not specifically concerning alcohol misuse and alcohol awareness. The club is a local grassroots club, effectively run by volunteers, and it seems to me that the RFU might consider providing guidance and educative material around alcohol use that would potentially be welcome and utilised by affiliate grassroots rugby clubs and could have a positive impact on harmful drinking.