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An inquest will be held in January to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a man described as having a ‘heart of gold’.
Ben Young, 36, died towards the end of September in circumstances that police did not deem to be suspicious. A file was passed to the coroner ahead of next year’s inquest.
Ben was a player at Preston Grasshoppers while also working as a security guard. He was described as having a ‘heart of gold’ while his coach at Grasshoppers has called for more to be done to tackle the issue of young men’s mental health.
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A minute’s silence was held ahead of the fixture with Hull on Saturday (19 October).
Dan Orwin, coach at Preston Grasshoppers, said at the weekend:”A fortnight ago, we received some terrible news that one of our own, Ben Young, a Hopper, tragically took his own life. On behalf of everyone associated with Preston Grasshoppers, our deepest condolences go out to Ben’s friends and family.
“We will be holding a minute’s silence in his memory, prior to kick off today. This is the second time in recent weeks where we are reflecting on, remembering, and sending condolences for young men from our rugby family who have taken their own lives.
“As a group of coaches and players, we have discussed the importance of reaching out for help if you are struggling with your mental health.
“Unfortunately, there is still a stigma associated with mental health, particularly with young men. It is ok not to be ok, and we need to keep spreading that message. We are currently in touch with Looseheadz, a rugby organisation focused on encouraging players to reach out and tackle the stigma, and we are in the process of putting a Mental Health Lead in place.”
A spokesperson for Barbican Security, where Ben had worked, said: “It’s with a heavy heart that we as a company have lost one of the OG’s.
“Ben Young, you were a massive part of this company and we all can’t believe that you have gone. You were a brother, comrade, friend and a warrior. You were loved by so many and you had a heart of gold.
“You were one of the good guys and will be missed by so many. Rest easy big fella. The man, the myth, the legend.”
An inquest into Ben’s death will be held at 1.30pm on 3 January 2025. It is due to last for one hour.
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