Brit found dead in hotel room next to badly injured woman in Italy was ex-rugby league star Ricky Bibey
A BRIT found dead in a hotel room next to a badly injured woman was a retired rugby league star.
Wakefield ace Ricky Bibey, 40, is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack or seizure.
A 44-year-old British woman was found seriously injured in their room at the four-star Hotel Continentale in Florence, Italy.
Police sources say they think it was the result of a sex game gone wrong but have not ruled out a domestic abuse incident.
The pair were said to have returned to the hotel, close to the city’s Ponte Vecchio, at 2am on Saturday in “high spirits” after a night out.
But at 8am, staff were alerted by the woman screaming for help.
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Prop Ricky, who also played for England A, Wigan and Leigh, was found lifeless on the floor.
A police source said: “Mr Bibey had no obvious sign of an injury that could have caused his death and no third person was involved. Samples were taken to establish whether drugs, Viagra or other substances were present.
“A particular object they appear to have been using has been taken away for forensic examination.”
The woman had surgery after suffering serious blood loss but was out of danger last night.
Ricky, who lived in an £800,000 home in Prestwich, Gtr Manchester, had been running a window cleaning business and property venture since retiring in 2012.
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The woman had surgery after suffering serious blood loss but was out of danger last night.
The source added: “There is no evidence to suggest Mr Bibey died after being assaulted as all the blood in the room would appear to have come from the woman.”
Ricky, of Prestwich, Gtr Manchester, ran a window cleaning business and property venture since retiring in 2012.