Tragic footballer Maddy Cusack's inquest is delayed by five months - extending her family's agony - after new medical evidence is submitted

By TARA ANSON-WALSH AT CHESTERFIELD CORONER'S COURT Published: 11:45, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 12:23, 9 July 2026 The inquest into the death of Maddy Cusack has been adjourned midway through proceedings following the presentation of new medical evidence, with the hearing now set to resume in December. The former Sheffield United Women vice-captain was found dead at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, by her father, David Cusack, on September 20, 2023. She was 27. An inquest into her death began at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on June 30, nearly three years after her death. The Cusack family, who had hoped the inquest would conclude this week, now face a wait of at least another five months before proceedings can be completed. The delay follows the submission of new evidence to coroner Sophie Cartwright, understood to be of a medical nature, as well as additional evidence provided by the family. Several witnesses are expected to be recalled when proceedings resume, including club doctor Subhashis Basu and Francesca Carr, who worked as Sheffield United Women's physiotherapist between 2021 and 2024. Former assistant physiotherapist Sean Bowskill, who now works in Abu Dhabi, is also due to give evidence. Maddy Cusack was found dead at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20, 2023 Manager Jonathan Morgan has defended his relationship with Cusack and denied claims against him made at Chesterfield Coroner's Court Vicki Anderson, the club's head of HR, and representatives from the Football Association had been scheduled to give evidence this week, but their appearances have also been pushed back until the new date. Last week, the inquest heard of an 'industrial-scale' loss of sensitive medical data involving a record-keeping system used by women's football clubs, including missing records relating to Maddy. Basu subsequently admitted he had failed to adequately report the data breach. On Thursday, Cartwright ordered a forensic audit of the medical records system and instructed Sheffield United to liaise with its operators to establish who had access to Maddy's records. The coroner also said she would contact Sheffield Teaching Hospital to obtain Maddy's medical records from August 2022 until the date of her death. Maria Mulla, representing the Cusack family, asked for the hearing to resume as early in December as possible to allow the family to 'settle' before Christmas. The new date is December 7, with Cartwright indicating that three to four days will likely be required. Apologising to the family, who were visibly upset by the announcement, Cartwright acknowledged the emotional toll of the ongoing proceedings. 'I'm so very sorry to the family in particular, to Ms Riglar (Maddy's girlfriend), and to all the properly interested parties,' she said. 'I genuinely am sorry and appreciate the significance of this inquest. I'm also conscious that before we next meet there will be another anniversary of her death and birthday, and my thoughts will be with you on those two dates.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details  Your browser does not support iframes.