Former rugby league player Ricky Bibey was found dead in a Florence hotel room in July 2022, following an incident during which he assaulted his girlfriend while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, an inquest heard.

Bibey, 40, a father of three from Oldham and former player for teams including Wigan Warriors, St Helens, and Wakefield Trinity, was discovered at the Continentale Hotel on July 16, 2022. A postmortem examination concluded that the cause of death was neck compression. During the hearing, estate agent Jennie Platt detailed the events leading up to his death, describing how Bibey, reportedly snorting cocaine in the bathroom, became violent.

Platt recounted how Bibey inflicted serious injuries on her during a physical altercation in their hotel room. She described the former athlete’s behavior as unrecognizable, with glazed eyes and a demeanor she likened to “a demon.” In an effort to defend herself, she said she “kicked him as hard as I could” before losing consciousness. Upon regaining awareness, she found Bibey hanging with a ligature around his neck.

According to Platt, Bibey’s life had deteriorated following his retirement from professional rugby. She described his descent as a “spiral” marked by escalating drug and alcohol abuse, along with increasingly erratic behavior despite multiple rehabilitation efforts.

Assistant coroner Lisa Judge, presiding over the inquest in Rochdale, recorded an open verdict. While the evidence confirmed that Bibey had placed the ligature around his own neck, the coroner indicated that there was insufficient proof to conclude that he intended to take his own life.

The case underscores the challenges faced by former athletes dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues in the aftermath of their sporting careers.