Carl Fogarty has revealed that his dying friend’s words helped him beat his three-year battle with depression.
The four-time World Superbike champion and winner of this year’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here has admitted that he was never happy while racing and compared himself to tragic football legend, Paul Gascoigne.
He told The Sun that his close pal, Mark Winstanley, who sadly died from stomach cancer aged 45, told Carl to ‘stop moaning’ and it was his encouragement that helped Foggy decide to appear on I’m A Celeb. Carl explained:
“Mark stopped me from whinging about who I was. He said, ‘Look at me you f****** d***, I’m dying and you keep complaining because of who you are’.
“He said to get out there and celebrate what I created for motorcycling, and I think that’s why I probably ended up doing the show.
“When he died it left a massive hole, but what he said was kind of the kick up the a**e I needed. This show has come at a really good time for me.”
Foggy was initially approached to do the show ten years ago, after he retired from racing in 2000, following his crash at Australia’s Phillip Island.
Delving into more detail about his depression, Carl added: “For three years I wanted to forget who I was. I was depressed because I could no longer do the thing I was good at.
“I used to read stuff about Paul Gascoigne and Frank Bruno and I could easily see how they ended up not in a good place.
“Going into my trophy room at home was torture — a constant reminder of what I couldn’t do any more.” Carl also admitted that he took out his frustration on his beloved wife and childhood sweetheart, Michaela, who he has two children with.
“She put up with a lot of s*** if I’m honest and it wasn’t until my career was over that she told me.”
He said that he became obsessed with winning and “created a monster”, but he’s happy that person has now gone and he can enjoy his I’m A Celeb win in a healthy way.
Well done, Foggy. We’re happy for you!