Tyson Fury has revealed he experiences suicidal thoughts once a week. The fan favourite has been embroiled in an ongoing battle with depression since November 2015.
Fury’s downward spiral – in which he ballooned in weight and engaged in all sorts of reckless behaviour, including substance abuse – began shortly after he reached the pinnacle of his career by dethroning Wladimir Klitschko to become the unified heavyweight champion of the world.
In the months that followed that glorious night in Dusseldorf, Fury made multiple attempts to take his own life – one of which saw him hurtle towards a bridge at 190mph in a brand-new Ferrari.
However, moments before he got to the bridge, a voice in his head told him: “Don’t do this, Tyson. Think about your kids.”
That moment proved to be a huge catalyst in his road to recovery, which he himself openly admits he’s still on.
When he asked why he feels the way he does, Fury said: “That’s the way I live. It’s routine that’s keeping me alive and keeping me going.”
Fury is well aware of the positive effect his disciplined lifestyle has on his mental health and wholeheartedly believes he’d no longer be on this earth if he were to stray from it.
“If I give up the gym, I’ll be dead within a year,” he continued. “That’s for sure.”
Fury’s frank admission on his mental health comes a few days after he shed more light on his high-speed suicide attempt.
“One day I woke up and thought, ‘Today’s the day I end it all,’” he told ITV. “I was heading towards this bridge, I was going to smash the car into the bridge at very high speed, I just didn’t have the ambition to live anymore.
“Before I got to the bridge I heard a voice saying, ‘Don’t do this, you’re going to destroy your family’s life’.
“And I immediately pulled the car over and that was the first time I thought, ‘Right, now or never. I need to get well immediately.’”
Fury, of course, is currently the final phase of his preparation for his rematch with Wilder – whom he’ll face in Las Vegas a week on Saturday.
If you are worried about someone or if you are finding it hard to cope, call the Samaritans free any time, from any phone, on 116 123 for 24/7 confidential support or you can visit their website at: www.samaritans.org