F1 boss Max Mosley ‘found with fatal gunshot wound after learning he had terminal cancer’

Formula 1 boss Max Mosley was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his head after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, an inquest heard today.

The former president of the motorsport’s governing body FIA died at home in Chelsea, west London, last May, aged 81.

The inquest heard that he was told he had just “weeks” to live, and that chronic bladder and bowel pain would only lessen with palliative care but could not be cured.

Mr Mosley told his personal assistant of 20 years he was going to take his own life the day before he did so, the inquest also heard.

His PA Henry Alexander said he had gone over at Mr Mosley’s request about 3pm the day before.

He said: “He was sat in an armchair in a despairing way. He spoke to me and said I’d been amazing and thanking me.

“He said he’d had enough, had intentions of killing himself. I begged him to reconsider and said, ‘please, there must be another way’.

“He said he’d made up his mind. When I pleaded with him, asked him if he could give it 24 hours, he said ‘why?’”

A neighbour and his housekeeper called 999 after they discovered a note on his bedroom door, stating “do not enter, call the police”, the remote inquest attended by witnesses and family heard.

A suicide note found on his bedside table was barely legible, due to the large amounts of blood, but the few words officers could make out were “I had no choice”, Westminster Coroner’s Court heard.

Senior Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said: “On May 24, 2021, police were called to the address of Mr Mosely, attended, and found him lying on his bed with a gun in the vicinity.

“He suffered significant injuries consistent with gunshot wound.”

Mr Alexander, who lived near Mr Mosley, said he had accessed the house through the housekeeper’s basement flat after 8am following concerning text messages the night before.

He said he had spoken to Mr Mosley who said he was concerned about his upcoming cancer operation.

In a written statement, he said: “I sent him a text at around quarter to asking if he would want his breakfast upstairs. I rang him and it went to voicemail.”

DC Ben Benlounes, who gave evidence at the hearing, said he arrived at the scene at approximately 10.15am and spoke with the acting inspector.

The officer confirmed there were no signs of anything suspicious or forced entry.

The inquest also heard a written statement from Dr Christopher McNamara, a consultant haemotologist who first saw Mr Mosley in October 2019.

He said the former Formula 1 boss had been diagnosed with a high-grade lymphoma and that he had recommended a course of chemotherapy for prostate cancer.

Xural.com