Senior Coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded that Andrew McGinty died by suicide. The 38-year-old coach was found dead in his room at the Village Hotel in Bury, Greater Manchester, on December 18 last year. He had checked into the hotel on December 16 and was due to check out two days later. Hotel staff forced their way into the room after he failed to check out, finding the door chained from the inside, which delayed access to the scene.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on December 19, 2025, at Newcastle Freeman Hospital mortuary by Dr James Henry. According to coroners' officer Kelly Taylor, the cause of death was due to drugs. Taylor stated that the post-mortem gave the cause of death as the toxic effects of a drug, though the specific substance involved has not been disclosed publicly. The examination occurred shortly after his body was discovered, providing initial medical findings for the inquest.
I understand the circumstances to be that Mr McGhee was found deceased by his father in his bedroom.
An inquest into McGinty's death opened at Crook Coroners' Court on Tuesday, March 3. A full inquest will be held on April 16 at 11am to further examine the circumstances, including details from the post-mortem and witness statements. The reasons for his stay at the hotel and what led to his suicide remain unclear as the investigation continues, with authorities gathering more evidence ahead of the full hearing.
Andrew McGinty coached the England and Great Britain water polo squads, contributing significantly to the sport over his career. In his personal life, he worked as a fireplace installation worker, balancing his coaching duties with his trade. His death has impacted the water polo community, with organizations like Swim England and the City of Manchester Water Polo Club among those affected by the loss of a dedicated coach. Tributes have poured in from colleagues and athletes who described him as a passionate mentor committed to developing talent in the sport.
On December 19, 2025, Dr James Henry conducted a post-mortem examination at Newcastle Freeman Hospital mortuary and gave the cause of death as the toxic effects of a drug.