Ricky Hatton's brother Matthew reflects on their life together | ITV News

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If you are struggling with your mental health and feel you need help, there are resources available to support you. Visit samaritans.org, or call 116 123 for free, 24 hours a day. The brother of Ricky Hatton has described the weeks since the boxer's death as being "like a bad dream". The 46-year-old former World Champion was found dead at his at home in Hyde, Greater Manchester on Sunday 14 September. In his first TV interview since his death, Ricky's younger brother, Matthew Hatton, told ITV Granada Reports his death has still not fully hit him. "I think when it first happened I was absolutely, totally shocked and I'll be honest for the first few weeks... I just couldn't answer my phone. I couldn't speak to people," Matthew said. "It felt almost like a bad dream. Has it hit me yet fully? Probably not." The two brothers spent their childhood training together, and went on to fight on the same cards for much professional careers. Matthew said: "We were inseparable, we were best friends. When I think back to the Vegas days, we needed each other. "Boxing is a tough lonely game but we did it together. The best time of my life and the best time of his life, I feel fortunate we did them together. " The former welterweight boxer said his brother's death came as a "total shock" to him and Ricky's entire family. He said: "Genuinely this year it's the best he's even been by a long long way. "He's had his problems since he stopped boxing, that's been well documented, but this is undoubtedly the best we've ever seen him. So it really was a shock." On Thursday 16 October, a coroner's court heard that Ricky was discovered “unresponsive” by his manager, Paul Speak, and it is believed he had taken his own life. Matthew said he was aware of Ricky's struggles with his mental health, and always worried about his brother. He said: "A lot of the time he spoke about things that happened years ago, and didn't really seem to have a vision for the future and that always worried me... "He was always so busy, so he didn't [reach out] but I know he was speaking to professionals." Hatton had been candid about his mental health struggles with drink, drugs and past suicide attempts after he retired from the ring for a second time following a misguided comeback in 2012. His death sparked a debate over whether enough is being done to help sporting stars after retirement. Matthew said: "Ricky loved being around people, he loved being in the limelight. He lived his life the way he lived it. He didn't get ill, he didn't fade into the background or grow old where we all get a little bit less relevant. "He would have absolutely hated that." Ricky Hatton received a huge send off from his home town, with thousands lining the streets as his funeral cortege made its way through Hyde, Denton, and Manchester. • Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj • Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news Follow ITV News on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@itvnews?lang=en Follow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/ Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/ Follow ITV News on X: https://twitter.com/itvnews