The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death. He said: During a period of horseplay with a friend and a relative he appeared to have lost his balance, travelled through or caused to open the fire door, fallen, and as he did so his head has come into contact with the steps. He said: "During a period of horseplay with a friend and a relative he appeared to have lost his balance, travelled through or caused to open the fire door, fallen, and as he did so his head has come into contact with the steps. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Whittinghams former Cardiff boss, and ex-Bluebirds colleagues Aaron Ramsey and Robbie Fowler were among those to pay tribute to the cultured midfielder. Peter Whittingham death: Tributes paid to Cardiff City legend who died The coroners court in Pontypridd, south Wales, heard the former England Under-21 international had gone drinking with his wifes brother and a friend to watch last years England v Wales Six Nations match. Thoughts are with his family and friends.. Cardiff City legend Peter Whittingham tragically died after falling through a pub fire door and hitting his head, an inquest heard. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. After leaving Cardiff in 2017, Mr Whittingham, originally from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, ended his career with Blackburn Rovers in 2018 before moving back to south Wales. Peter Whittingham pictured playing for Cardiff in October 2015. The former Cardiff midfielder has died at the age of 35 following a fall 12 days ago.. Whittingham suffered serious head injuries at a pub in Barry from what South Wales Police described as an "accidental fall". As always you can unsubscribe at any time. We love you Pete and your memory will eternally stay with us., READ: Borussia Monchengladbach players offer to give up their salaries. Mr Taylor said he recalled people wanting to take photographs with Whittingham in the pub corridor, which led to steps taking guests to an external smoking area, but also said he had no memory of "play fighting" or Whittingham falling before he noticed him on the ground. By March 17 he had been off sedative drugs for a number of days but neurological recovery remained poor. Whittingham came through the ranks at Villa, where he won the FA Youth Cup in 2002 prior to a Premier League debut a year later. Whittinghams wife Amanda is currently pregnant. What a player Peter Whittingham was.Gone far too soon. She said: "Rob was going out to watch the Wales v England game at the Park Hotel pub in Barry and trying to persuade Peter to go with him. He was with Mr Whittingham at the Park Pub in Barry. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The talented playmaker was named in the Championship Team of the Year on three occasions - also twice winning Cardiffs Player of the Season accolade. "I walked over to him to offer my hand, thinking he would just take it and I would help him back up to his feet. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a persons death. He said they had between six and 10 pints and a round of shots at the pub, adding: All of us were pretty drunk at that point.". She said she woke at around midnight to find her mum banging on her door. Coroner Graeme Hughes recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest at Pontypridd Coroner's Court. Cardiff said they were "heartbroken" in a statement on their website. This has led to a traumatic head injury.. Sign up to the CardiffOnline newsletter to receive our top stories straight to your inbox. DC Jenkins said it does not capture Peter Whittingham's fall but the build-up. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-1diosym{color:black;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-1diosym{color:#fff;}}Published14:44,03 March 2021 GMT@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-jirzs7{color:#72B97D;}}| Last updated14:56,03 March 2021 GMT. His retirement came about in 2018 after a spell with Blackburn Rovers. The former playmaker made 413 appearances for Cardiff, scoring 85 goals during a career spanning ten years in the Welsh capital. She adds they married in 2015. Mr Hughes passed his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Whittingham as he ended the hearing. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.. On Wednesday, South Wales Police had released a statement detailing an accident that had occurred in Barry after rumours of Whittingham's death on social media users began to circulate. He was named in the 2015 Football League Team of the Decade and was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award at Cardiffs 2017 Awards Evening. An ex-Cardiff City player hit his head and died after falling down stairs at a pub in a pretend fight with friends, an inquest heard. Thoughts go to all the family, friends and club in this difficult time. Coroner Graeme Hughes has recorded an accidental death conclusion. First and foremost, Peter was a family man and somebody who could light up a room with his sense of humour, warmth and personality. Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system is not held to account. "Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time. Whittinghams former club, Cardiff City, expressed heartbreak in a statement on its website. Around 3pm that afternoon they left to go to Barry together. She recalled he hadnt eaten since breakfast. He is believed to have fallen down a flight of stairs at a pub in Barry and was left. Whittingham played in the FA Cup final in 2008 and the Carling Cup final in 2012, and collected a Championship winners medal in 2013 as Cardiff were promoted to the Premier League. Our mission is to offer our intelligent, international audience access to the games biggest names, insightful analysis and a bit of a giggle. THE midfielder was rushed to hospital after an incident on Saturday March 7. You can unsubscribe at any time. Former Cardiff City midfielder Peter Whittingham has died aged 35. Former Aston Villa star Peter Whittingham tragically died after falling through a pub fire door and hitting his head, an inquest heard.. He was living in Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan, with Amanda and his young son when he died. What was his cause of death? See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Whittingham, a former England U21s international, sustained a head injury in a fall at a pub on March 7, 2020, where he had watched an England vs Wales rugby match with friends. Coroner Graeme Hughes, who recorded a conclusion of accidental death, said Mr Whittingham had "consumed a quantity of alcohol that has likely impacted on his demeanour and steadiness" before he fell. He described finding the footballer lying at the bottom of the stairs with his face to the side, but when he tried to lift him, Mr Whittingham's body was limp. Robert Williams, Mr Whittingham's brother-in-law, told Pontypridd Coroner's Court they had been drinking lager, bitter and tequila through the afternoon and evening along with friend Ryan Taylor, and the evening was a "blackout" in his memory. It read: "At around 10pm on March 7, South Wales Police were called to a licensed premises in Barry. But he said the evening was a "blackout", and had no memory of the ex-footballer falling. He made 16 appearances for Englands Under-21 team in that time, scoring three goals, while featuring in Villas Premier League side. Whittingham is congratulated by Rickie Lambert after scoring a free kick against Sheffield Wednesday. Mr Lewis said he went to the area and saw someone lying on the floor before calling the emergency services. At around 9pm a female customer alerted him to the incident, saying: Someone's been knocked out.". Peter Whittingham inquest hears former Cardiff and Aston Villa star died after tragic pub accident Whittingham, a former England U21s international, sustained a head injury in a fall at a. "When I looked more closely I could see he was not moving and something was wrong.". One of the best players to play in the Championship. Manchester United chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - his former boss at Cardiff - paid tribute to Whittingham, calling him a "fantastic footballer and incredible human being". The ex-Bluebirds midfielder, who died last year aged 35 and. It read: "At around 10pm on March 7, South Wales Police were called to a licensed premises in Barry. He was also part of the defeated 2012 League Cup final side who took Liverpool to penalties after a 2-2 draw. Mr Taylor said Mr Whittingham's eyes were "wide open and were almost completely white" having rolled to the back of his head. 11:49 AM EDT, Fri March 20, 2020, Former Premier League footballer dead at 35. He described seeing light-hearted play fighting which evidently involves no malice whatsoever and they are all smiling throughout. There's an 'unsubscribe' button at the bottom of every newsletter we send out. What science tells us about the afterlife. You can also subscribe to tailored content for Swansea, Newport, rugby, Cardiff City FC, Swansea City FC and more. ", Another commented: "Sending love and best wishes to Peter's family and to all of you that enjoyed watching him play.". A Warner Bros. Ryan Taylor, who was out drinking with Mr Williams and Mr Whittingham at the time, said Whittingham fell in the corridor leading to the beer garden. The former Aston Villa youth player's pal said he fell in the corridor leading to the beer garden. The left-footed maestro finished his career at Blackburn Rovers and played for England under-21s, earning 17 caps. A two-time Cardiff player of the year, Whittingham captained Cardiff to promotion from the Championship in 2013, securing his third place in the divisions PFA Team of the Season for the third time in his career, while he also made the PFAs 2005-2015 Championship team of the decade. Whittingham, 35, suffered a traumatic head injury at the Park Hotel pub in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, on March 7, 2020, and died in hospital 11 days later after failing to regain consciousness. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Mrs Whittingham said she texted her husband at 9pm but didnt hear back and after she called later there was no answer and she fell asleep. I cannot remember being in the corridor and messing about with Pete and Ryan. The former Cardiff City midfielder Peter Whittingham died after falling down stairs at a pub following a drunken play fight with friends, an inquest has been told. She describes that in the morning on the day of the incident that led to his death they went out for a walk before Peter went out with her brother in Barry. As well as a brilliant strike rate of more than one in five, he also assisted many more with his classy left foot. A club statement read: "It is with an immeasurable amount of sorrow that we must inform supporters that Peter Whittingham has passed away at the age of 35. Mrs Whittingham was told her husband had had an accident and had a fall and was in hospital. The exact cause of Whittingham's death has not yet been confirmed, but he was being treated for a head injury. My kids need me.I've got a three year old who is a little whirlwind most of the time, but when I've had a seizure, he sits beside me and he calms down. Over the course of the afternoon/evening he has consumed a quantity of alcohol that has likely impacted his demeanour and steadiness. He said at time of the incident the only people present were Robert Williams, Ryan Taylor, and Mr Whittingham. I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Whittingham, said Solskjaer, who was Cardiff manager in 2014. When I looked more closely at Peter, I could see he wasn't moving and something was wrong," he told the court. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Peter Whittingham dead: Find out how the former Cardiff star died, Peter Whittingham started out at Aston Villa, Peter Whittingham tributes: Football world pays respects, Peter Whittingham dead: Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pays tribute, Peter Whittingham became a club legend at Cardiff City, Peter Whittingham dead: Former Cardiff and Aston Villa midfielder dead, Coronavirus in football: List of confirmed cases, Sports documentaries available on Amazon Prime amid coronavirus crisis. Peter Whittingham died on 17 March 2020 at the age of 35, according to Transfermarkt. For other inquiries, Contact Us. But, most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening. A medical cause of death was proposed as subdural hematoma operated. Or why not treat yourself? "I was the first person there and offered him my hand thinking he would just take it and he would get up on his feet.