A regional sports journalist who lost his life at the age of 33 died from sudden adult death syndrome, an inquest has found.

Liam Chronnell, left, was a sports reporter and sub-editor at The Bolton News at the time of his death on 11 December last year, when he was found at his home in Whalley Range.

The dad-of-one was due to report on Amir Khan’s televised welterweight-title bout with Lamont Peterson but was found dead on his sofa with his notepad and pen next to him.

The inquest into his death was held at Manchester Coroner’s Court on Wednesday and ruled the cause of death was sudden adult death syndrome, which is a cardiac death of an apparently healthy young person.

After the inquest, his partner Caroline English said: “Liam is one of the most charismatic people I have ever met. I am proud to have loved and been loved by him for 14 years and I will love him for the rest of my life.

“As hard as it is to think about right now, I hope to see Liam through our 22-month-old daughter Olive, as she grows up.”

Pathologist Dr Helen Denley told the inquest Liam had not shown any signs of ill health and his death may have been due to a genetic heart condition.

Assistant deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton said: “It’s very hard for us to take in and understand how someone of the age that Liam was, and to all intents and purposes very fit and healthy, can die suddenly.

“Because we have heard from Dr Denley the circumstances and the absence of any findings, then the cause of death is given as sudden adult death syndrome.”

A verdict of death by natural causes was recorded.

Liam had worked at The Bolton News for five years and before that worked as a journalist at titles across Greater Manchester, including the Stockport Express, Salford Advertiser and Wilmslow Express.