Yahoo News Tearful Noel Edmonds recalls contemplating suicide
Warning: The following article contains discussion of suicide that some readers may find upsetting.
Noel Edmonds has revealed how he fell into a "bottomless dark space" after he was targeted by fraudsters.
The former Deal or No Deal presenter is seeking £73 million in compensation after he was conned by a fraud scam back in 2005. Noel added that the ordeal almost had far more serious consequences, revealing in June this year that the scam led him to contemplate suicide.
And in a new interview, Noel became tearful as he candidly described the period of his life where he "saw nothing in that dark space".
"My world imploded," he told ITV News. "And I lost my home. I went to a very dark space.
"[It cost my] marriage, my family, my businesses, my longstanding friend and business partner; my income, my investments, my self-respect, my reputation, my privacy, my physical and mental health.
"It cost me my security, my image rights, my collection of classic cars – and very nearly my life.
"The only way I can describe it is it is the darkest space that the human mind ever occupies.
Noel Edmonds has opened up about how he attempted suicide 12 years ago when his business empire lay in ruinshttps://t.co/2THotZZsXX pic.twitter.com/rKhjqBiNkI
- ITV News (@itvnews) September 20, 2017
"You see nothing. I mean I had four daughters, I had a wife, I had mates. I saw nothing in that dark space.
"I wrote a letter to my now ex-wife explaining as best I could why I'd reached the end, and I recorded little dictaphone messages to my daughters, basically saying goodbye."
Noel, who previously credited emergency services for their "swift response", later checked into rehab to recover and has since given generously to crisis charities.
"Subsequently, I have donated generously and gratefully to the Samaritans," he added.
"I use my experience to comfort and support others for whom life has no hope. Please be kind, don't be judgemental. Life without hope is no life."
Lloyds Banking Group, which rescued HBOS during the financial crisis in 2008, has promised to make compensation offers to fraud victims from a £100m pot.
A bank spokesperson said in a statement: "Our customers' safety is of paramount importance to us. We have a clear policy that if a customer says that they are considering taking their own life that we must take the statement seriously and take action to protect them.
"In such instances, police are notified and, where possible, provided with the customer's location in order that they can go to the customer and ensure their safety."
Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.
You Might Also Like
