ITV viewers were in pieces last night watching ex footballer Lee Hendrie open up about his suicide attempts in Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh.
During the second episode of the new series, aired on Tuesday (May 19), Lee opened up to Vinnie Jones and Paul Merson about his heartbreaking battle with depression.
The former pros were talking about the mental impact of leaving the game, when Vinnie asked Lee: “Did you struggle when you came out of the game?”
What did Lee Hendrie say on Harry’s Heroes?
Read more: Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh viewers in tears over Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock’s health issues
Lee admitted: “I thought it was going to continue and continue, you can have good money and it’s going to last forever.
“I fell deep down into bad depression. I obviously ended up going bankrupt. My house got repossessed. They repossessed my mum’s house…
“That just destroyed me. I just wanted to… That was in then. I just got up one day, got pissed, had too much to drink and tried to kill myself. I just woke up on a life-support machine.”
He continued: “My body shut down. Then I tried to do it again. Because I just couldn’t grasp what was going on. I felt that was the only way of getting away from it.”
Every single day I struggle.
Vinnie told him: “I mean, I had the same thing. I came out of it the other end. But you will and day by day, you do progress.”
Lee went on: “Still to now, every single day I struggle. I still take anti-depressants. I didn’t even want to talk about it.”
Brave for opening up
Reacting on Twitter, one viewer said: “Lee is definitely struggling with life in general. All too familiar and sad to see. Keep talking Lee!”
‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’
Lee Hendrie discusses his continued struggle with depression. This clip does contain upsetting content.#HarrysHeroes: Euro Having A Laugh. Watch now on @ITVHub 👉https://t.co/xbp0HqVNOc@VinnieJones65 @PaulMerse @leehendrie77 pic.twitter.com/7CEsK560fG— ITV (@ITV) May 20, 2020
Another said: “What an emotional and moving interview! Merse is so right! Everything looks fine on the outside! But it’s not on the inside. Vinnie you are spot on, houses, money, nothing can ever replace a something you love so much x.”
A third tweeted: “Tears in my eyes. You can just see in Lee Hendrie’s face how much he’s depressed. Good to see men opening up and talking. So many keep it deep down and before you know it, our loved ones and mates are gone.”
Lee is definitely struggling with life in general. All too familiar and sad to see. Keep talking Lee!
— PapaBeatts (@ArrghBee) May 20, 2020
What an emotional and moving interview! Merse is so right! Everything looks fine on the outside! But it’s not on the inside. Vinnie you are spot on, houses, money, nothing can ever replace a something you love so much x
— Trev Jenkins (@jenkins_trev) May 20, 2020
Tears in my eyes. You can just see in Lee Hendrie’s face how much he’s depressed. Good to see men opening up and talking. So many keep it deep down and before you know it our loved ones and mates are gone.
— Jason Lee 🇬🇧 (@ForeverAYellow) May 20, 2020
Read more: Harry Redknapp slams Channel 4 documentary that showed him accepting £20k to support charity
“@leehendrie77 loving #HarrysHeroes and so brave to talk about your depression,” said a fourth, adding: “You’re a legend, Lee… we love you.”
Someone else put: “In tears for the second night running watching #HarrysHeroes Watching Paul Merson, Vinnie Jones and Lee Hendrie open up on mental health issues just emphasises that anyone can be affected and people must speak out. Don’t suffer in silence.”
@leehendrie77 loving #HarrysHeroes and so brave to talk about your depression… your a legend Lee.. we love you.
— Keith Reynolds (@Keith76Reynolds) May 19, 2020
In tears for the second night running watching #HarrysHeroes
Watching Paul Merson, Vinnie Jones & Lee Hendrie open up on mental health issues just emphasises that anyone can be affected & people must speak out. Don’t suffer in silence. ❤️#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #mentalhealth— 🏃🏼💪🏼 Paul Yates 💪🏼🏃🏼 (@SalfordRunner) May 19, 2020
– Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh concludes tonight (Wednesday, May 20) at 9pm on ITV
Are you enjoying the programme so far? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know.