​Reporting by Polly Rippon
The mother of Maddy Cusack, who died in September 2023, broke into tears in court as the coroner presiding over the inquest into the former Sheffield United footballer’s death announced an adjournment after fresh evidence came to light. Deborah Cusack appeared visibly distressed as assistant coroner Sophie Cartwright QC explained that the hearing would have to be adjourned and that witnesses would need to be recalled in light of new information. She was comforted by her son, Maddy’s brother, Richard.
The coroner informed the court that the earliest possible date to resume the hearing would be December and offered her apologies to the Cusack family. The inquest began on June 29 and has so far heard eight days of evidence. It was scheduled to conclude with witnesses testifying the following day, Friday July 10, and the coroner had been expected to deliver a verdict on July 27.
Ms Cartwright KC stated on Thursday that additional documents had been submitted and that she needed to recall Dr Basu, the former club doctor, and Francesca Carr, who served as the Sheffield United women’s team physiotherapist from 2021 to 2024, to provide further evidence.
“I’m so very sorry to the family and all the interested parties that we have not been able to conclude the inquest. I am also conscious that the anniversary of Maddy’s death will take place in the meantime, and my thoughts will be with you,” she added.
This marks the second adjournment of the inquest. It had initially been slated to begin in January but was postponed to June 29. Cusack, who was described in court as “Miss Sheffield United,” was found unconscious at her Derbyshire home in September 2023. This report originally appeared in The Athletic. The article relates to Sheffield United, Women’s Soccer, and the Women’s Super League. The Athletic Media Company notes this content is intended for SEO purposes and is dated 2026.