Liam Canning’s family fear repeated sporting head injuries could have led to his death
08:48, 04 Jan 2025Updated 08:48, 04 Jan 2025
Liam Canning took his own life in September 2023(Image: Rossendale Rugby Club)
The family of a talented sportsman who died months before meeting his unborn child has raised concerns that his depression was caused by repeated head injuries. Liam Canning left his home on the morning of September 9 last year, with his wife Paige saying there was “nothing out of the ordinary” about his mood.
Mr Canning, a former Waterloo Rugby Club player, later told workmates at C&C Landscapes that he was going for a break but never returned. The 34-year-old was found in a wooded area in Padiham, Lancashire, by a dog-walker and was pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest held at Accrington Town Hall on January 3 heard Mr Canning’s family had raised concerns about whether his lifelong love of rugby had caused his mental health issues.
A statement from consultant neurosurgeon Nicholas Park described how there is a “significant positive association between persistent concussion symptoms and clinical depression”. He added: “There is good evidence that individuals who suffer persistent concussions are at increased risk of experiencing depression when compared to the general public.”
The inquest heard Mr Canning, who was born in Burnley and played for a number of rugby clubs including Waterloo during his career, had always played the sport “enthusiastically”. His family had submitted videos of him playing, and tackling, to the coroner.
Mr Canning’s wife had been pregnant with their youngest child at the time of his death. Their son, named Liam after his dad, was born on November 15 last year. Mr Canning, whose other previous clubs included Sedgley Park, Blackburn and Burnley and Pendle, played as a blindside flanker for Rossendale Rugby Club at the time of his death.
Professional rugby player Sam Bedlow, who played for Sale Sharks and is now a coach, sent a video to the inquest of Liam carrying out a particularly heavy tackle. Mr Bedlow said: “I’ve had the same happen to me, although not as bad as Liam’s, and I was pretty concussed after that. It’s quite easy to disguise it, as a player, and to carry on playing.”
LancsLive reported how Mr Bedlow explained that, in recent years since evidence has come to light of the potential consequences of repeated head injuries, the rules and laws of rugby have changed including the parts of the body which can be tackled. “A lot of it is about raising awareness,” he added.
Mr Canning’s family asked if he had reported experiencing dizzy spells to Mr Bedlow ahead of playing or training in the weeks before his death. He had also said to his family that his head “isn’t right”. Mr Bedow said that Mr Canning had not informed himself or the club of any concerns about his head.
The inquest heard that, the week before Mr Canning’s death, his smart watch had triggered an ‘SOS’ alert to his emergency contacts because his heart rate had risen. His boss at C&C Landscapes had spoken to him about seeking help but Liam had not made any appointments to see his GP.
Returning a conclusion of suicide, assistant coroner Richard Taylor accepted that the injuries Mr Canning had suffered while playing rugby had been a contributory factor to his mental health issues but wasn’t able to conclude it had contributed to his death. He said: “Rugby is a sport that is played by millions of people worldwide and enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.
“Changes have to be governed worldwide and that is not something I can have any part in. What you wanted to get across is increased awareness and I have heard that there is more awareness.”