ANTI-HATE campaigner Adrian Derbyshire almost died from a broken heart following the tragic death of his teenage daughter.
If it hadn’t been for the prompt actions of paramedics who took him straight to specialist heart hospital Broadgreen, Adrian would probably not have lived to tell the tale after suffering Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, a heart attack brought on by stress and known as “broken heart syndrome.”
“I was sat at home thinking I had a bad case of indigestion and was taking pain killers,” recalled Adrian, who lost his daughter Julia in October 2015, after she took her own life after emotional and physical abuse in the community and online.
Julia was already a big part of Adrian’s anti-bullying and hate crime campaign. She often travelled with him to spread the message and helping to save young lives before tragically taking her own life aged just 16.
Adrian, a former wheelchair athlete and Great Britain Gold medal winner, found his daughter collapsed at their Warrington home and she died five days later in hospital after her life support machine was switched off.
His campaign, under the hashtag #SASSY (Support Against Self-harm and Suicide in Youth), is dedicated to her memory and his drive to try to ensure other young people don’t take their lives.
“Losing Julia literally broke my heart,” said Adrian, who is now again embarking on his outreach campaign. He is also planning a number of specialist workshops helping educate young people about the dangers of online bullying.
Already reliant on a wheelchair due to an inoperable brain tumour which almost claimed his life, Adrian’s latest brush with death has made him even more determined to carry on with his campaign work.
“I’ve already spoken to more than 200,000 young people since launching the campaign and it is vitally important we keep getting the message out there that online bullying is claiming lives around the world on a daily basis.
“Young people need to know that suicide is not the answer.
“It is now over two years since Julia took her life and I have been receiving over 15,000 messages of support each month from around the world. The #SASSY campaign has now been translated into seven languages.
“I have had young people and their parents messaging me with support and seeking advice and help.”
For more information about Adrian’s campaign visit https://www.theadrianderbyshirefoundation.co.uk/
One year on Adrian Derbyshire campaigns on in Julia’s memory
