Garden privet dieback, fungus?

[RoadManDenDron]

A good friend asked me if I knew what was going on with this privet and I have to admit it is not something I have come across or even heard of before,

I mentioned the ability of many folks on here to identify such things and got the go ahead to post on here,
The light spots are just that, sunlight coming through the hedge

But hopefully the slime like substance is visible in the pics,

The trunks in question have died completely, so much so that when pulled back for the pics they just came right out the ground with no roots

 

[The Barber]

Is it on actual live wood or just the dead wood? Looks like it is just feeding in the deadwood to me.

 

[RoadManDenDron]

Good question! We think it's only on deadwood, will be having a closer look at the live wood around it but I think you're right,

Which sadly means we remain unsure why it died in the first place!