Beloved English naturalist and Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has opened up about the tragic event in his younger years that made him feel suicidal.
He also opened up about how he found solace in the company of animals as well as the trolling and threats he endures for his outspokenness.
The 62-year-old has been the long-time presenter of Springwatch and recently presented a Channel 4 documentary called Is It Time to Break the Law?
Chris Packham opens up about tragic event that made him feel suicidal
Speaking with the Mirror, Chris Packham revealed that he was relentlessly bullied at school and struggled to make friends once he was at university.
The BBC presenter said: “I’d recognised that the best way to protect myself was to not engage at all, or even attempt to engage."
He added that in his later years, he still continued to seek the company of animals but that he would end up in “some really dangerous places” when they would sadly pass away.
One such incident was when his dog Fish was run over by a car and bled to death in his arms.
He said: “I was suicidal... but I didn’t have enough pills. That’s what it came down to."
Afterwards, he admitted that he was so scared that he went to go and see a GP where he was recommended therapy.
Chris revealed that during the session “It was like I got hit by a train,” adding: "It was like I was winded, I could barely breathe because of everything that was coming out and it had been locked up for so long.”
Chris Packham shocked by 'orchestrated campaigns of hatred' against him
In recent years, Chris has been subject to various hate messages and death threats.
The Springwatch presenter said he was shocked by the "orchestrated campaigns of hatred" against him but when asked if he'd ever considered walking away from it all, he said “It’s not an option,” adding: “I have a relatively small voice compared to some, but at least I’m using it.”
He also revealed his unusual ways of processing the threats.
“When the gates were blown up I made a table from their burned remains," he said.
“The texture of the wood after the fire was beautifully iridescent and crinkled, and I’ve had it set in resin.
"I’m going to auction it to raise money, which I’ll give to a charity in direct opposition to the people who are most likely to have blown up the gates.”
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