Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Since retiring life has been tough on Graham and he tried to take his own life in 2009, A tale of sorcery and sadness: The tragic story of Herol Bomber Graham. “I looked forward to the round, so that I could have a break from their sixty-seconds of screaming,” Graham said. Our. What does developing a Covid-19 vaccine look like? Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who … ‘Often boxers fall on hard times financially and healthwise. She found Mr Graham's GP practice "did not have a robust system in place" to ensure he turned up - branding it a "clear failing". But that night in Norwich ended it all. © 2020 BBC. Hastings EBA chairman Dave Harris proposed Ringside Rest and Care after looking through his friend Oliver’s sad list. Errol Graham pictured in the 1980s or 1990s before his mental health deteriorated, Jodey Whiting took her own life after her benefits were stopped, MP Debbie Abrahams demanded an urgent independent inquiry into deaths of people whose benefits were stopped, Tory minister Justin Tomlinson replied by saying the fit-for-work test was "Labour's Work Capability Assessment", The spiral towards losing his benefits began on 31 August 2017, when he failed to attend a fit-for-work test for his ESA, Ms Turner accused the DWP of failing to heed warnings from coroners in two previous cases, (Image: PA Archive/Press Association Images), Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers, Single mum takes DWP to High Court after Universal Credit hurled her into childcare debt, DWP: Big surge in emergency housing payments for benefit claimants behind on rent. ‘It has been hard for me after boxing,’ he said. For former boxer Mark Goult, 50, the pain is shared by his elderly parents. DWP’s failings in the Graham case are also disturbingly similar to those that led to the death of Paul Donnachie, from Glasgow. Members will be senior civil servants from across the department. The last official contact was with housing provider Nottingham City Homes, which heard him shouting and punching a door during a visit in February 2018. You can unsubscribe at any time. “It was hard to do business with them,” Duff insisted. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Relatives of a man who starved to death after his benefits were stopped have said the system is "not fit for purpose". I wasn’t ready to come out. You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. But that is all I want. The inquest into Mr Graham's death in June 2018 heard he'd had a history of depression. Read about our approach to external linking. Oliver knows of other former boxers too ashamed to be named. The coroner last June said there were "missed opportunities" to help Mr Graham. Speaking previously, a spokeswoman for the DWP said: "This is a tragic, complex case and our sympathies are with Mr Graham’s family. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. In recent lucid moments, Graham recalls that fight. He said: ‘Boxing isn’t like other sports. ': Josh Warrington reveals secrets behind stunning upset victory, Eddie Hearn reveals Anthony Joshua doesn't 'remember anything from the third round' of his shock knockout defeat by Andy Ruiz Jnr and claims the Brit was 'too confident' of victory, All you need to know: Gennady Golovkin vs Steve Rolls fight, 'Yes, I can assure you': Tyson Fury set to face Deontay Wilder in another TWO bouts as promoter Bob Arum confirms they will have trilogy of fights. US election 2020: Who has lead in states still counting? [2], 1976 Junior World Welterweight Champion (beat John Mugabi in final), 1977 Senior ABA Light-Middleweight finalist (lost to Steve Hopkin). An inquest into Mr Graham's death was held in June 2019 and came to light when his family spoke to the Disability News Service. Despite going on to gain a world title shot in March 1998 in what was to be his final fight, Graham admits he never really recovered from the Jackson defeat and talks frankly about his desperation to get out of hospitals — the isolation and the drugs regime that zombifies him — and return to normal life. Video, Rescuers rush to save beached pilot whales. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. His speech never returned and we are the only ones who understand him. My cousin worked with him and tried to make sure that Herol did nothing. [3], Graham released his autobiography entitled Bomber: Behind the Laughter in 2011. Multiple world champion Ricky Hatton has also promised fundraising support for Ringside Rest and Care. Other people came through for me when I needed it, now I’m doing everything I can to raise funds for this project.’. People from Nottingham and beyond will join members of the family of Errol Graham, who died of starvation after his benefits were withdrawn. ", She added: "The flaws in their system - this is why I'm so angry with the DWP. Herol Graham: I tried to kill myself. Herol Bomber Graham is the latest of the heroes I started writing about over thirty years ago to have a living obituary. I hope I’m getting out soon. US election results: Trump sues as path to victory over Biden narrows. Errol Graham, 57, was found emaciated with a couple of old tins of fish in his cupboard. "The safety net that should surround vulnerable people like Errol in our society had holes within it.". “Nobody wanted to willingly fight me, I had to wait and then take what was offered,” added Graham. Errol Graham, 57, weighed four-and-a-half stone (30kg) when his body was found by bailiffs who broke into his Nottingham council flat to evict him. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Herol Graham, the legendary British, European and Commonwealth boxing champion, was rarely beaten in the ring during his heyday in the ’80s and ’90s but today he has been brought to the depths of despair by his own demons. He said: ‘Jackson caught me on the chin in the fourth round. Miss Turner told the BBC: "It is heartbreaking, horrific, for someone to die like that. ‘We were always close and I loved the way millions of people took him to their hearts. Errol Graham, 57, was found dead on the floor of his 15th-storey Nottingham council flat when bailiffs broke down his door. Want the latest Nottinghamshire lockdown news? It’s great that people are setting up a care home for them in retirement.’. The cause of death was starvation. His housing benefit was stopped as a result, cutting off his rent and prompting bailiffs to break down his front door on 20 June 2018. ‘He just took his meals with others who were like complete strangers to him, and went back to his room lonely and depressed. The medical cause of death was recorded as starvation. Graham went undefeated in his first 38 fights, winning the British, Commonwealth and European light-middleweight titles, as well as the British and European middleweight titles. You’re in bed crying every day. I felt like a horse had kicked me. A vigil and protest will be held for a man who was found starved to death after his benefits were cut. "It is likely that this loss of income, and housing, were the final and devastating stressors, that had a significant effect on his mental health. They're still counting the votes' Video'What do you mean? ‘There was no social activity for him,’ he said. They all put the gloves on and loved it and they came out for the fights. The flat had no gas and probably no electricity, the inquest heard, with "significant mail" by the front door. VideoWhat does developing a Covid-19 vaccine look like? Mr Graham's body was found "emaciated" and weighing just four-and-half-stone eight months after his benefits were stopped. His body was discovered by bailiffs who had been sent to knock his front door down in January 2016, but he is believed to have taken his own life in November 2015 after failing to attend a WCA and losing his ESA. ‘What we want is a safe and companionable life for our heroes, a place where they can be secure and talk about old times when they were in the ring. Graham had the great whispering guru Brendan Ingle at his side, a unique and often frustrating pairing who refused to bow to Mickey Duff and his legal cartel. By 1990 it was not just the American world champions avoiding Graham but the high-profile trio of British boxers Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn and Michael Watson all got on with their lucrative business without inviting Graham to the party. Video. View details that no one tells you about. .css-po6dm6-ItalicText{font-style:italic;}Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Saying the DWP is working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to train staff, he added: "We commissioned five independent reviews [of the fit-for-work test] and implemented over 100 recommendations.". In February 2009, Graham's son was injured in what police described as a "targeted shooting" at Westfield, Sheffield. ", The coroner added: "It is likely that this loss of income, and housing, were the final and devastating stressors, that had a significant effect on his mental health.". Sign up to our newsletter. Prisoner officer gets community order after admitting inappropriate relationship with inmate, Information about BBC links to other news sites, Biden urges patience as US awaits key results. But Tory minister Justin Tomlinson replied by saying the fit-for-work test for his IBF super.! Support allowance ( ESA ) was stopped in 2017 boxing ’ s...., a perfect storm of hardship, bad luck and cruelty I hit the floor of 15th-storey! Fragile but in a ‘ halfway house ’ tragically, his much-loved partner Karen Neville died last after. Heard Mr Graham 's daughter-in-law told the BBC is not responsible for the fights one night and ended in! Stories to read or reference later do it all again, a storm... To say they have done I ’ m respected within the sport ’ s a struggle, he... The last years of his victims Biden through the years after a long with... Has some of boxing ’ s modern treasures Comments on all subjects will held! 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