A football fan who was found dead hours after being accused of making a racist gesture towards a black player hanged himself.
Andrew Paul Hewitt, 52, a supporter of Chester FC, was found at his home in Flint, North Wales, on December 1. The provisional cause of death was determined to be hanging.
Earlier that day, Hewitt, an HGV driver, was reportedly caught on camera making an offensive gesture towards Warrington Town player Bohan Dixon after a teammate scored.
An inquest opened at County Hall in Ruthin revealed that emergency services were called to Hewitt’s home after concerns for his safety. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:35 AM, with assistant coroner Kate Robertson describing it as an “apparent act of self-harm.” A full inquest will be held at a later date.
A pathologist confirmed that the provisional cause of death was hanging following a post-mortem examination.
One neighbor expressed shock, stating: “We all found out it was Andy who’d been accused of being racist. It doesn’t sound like him. He’s a lovely lad and they are a great family. We’re all stunned that he took his life over this. I feel so sorry for the family.” Another neighbor described the situation as “shocking” and mentioned the devastation of Hewitt’s partner.
Hewitt’s sister-in-law, Mia Nicholson, posted on Facebook that it was a “truly devastating time” for the family, and a funeral will take place on December 18.
The incident occurred at Caledonian Stadium, home of Warrington Town FC, during a National League North match. Objects were thrown onto the pitch amid ugly scenes following the controversial gesture. Video footage of the incident circulated on social media, with some fans identifying Hewitt in the crowd of 2,296 spectators.
Chester FC condemned the alleged racism and vowed to provide video and photographic evidence to Cheshire Police. The club stated: “Racism has no place in sport or society, and anyone found to have displayed such behaviour will receive an indefinite ban from attending matches.” Chester FC also condemned “the actions of a minority who are unable to behave responsibly,” and an investigation by the Football Association is ongoing.
The alleged incident occurred during Dixon’s goal celebration after Connor Woods scored from a penalty in the 73rd minute. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after Warrington’s Josh Amis was sent off and Harrison Burke equalized for Chester.
