Welsh legend Gareth Thomas reveals he has HIV and admits he considered committing suicide

Welsh legend Gareth Thomas reveals he has HIV and admits he considered committing suicide

Welsh Rugby great Gareth Thomas has revealed that he has been living with HIV 'for years' making the announcement on social media on Saturday night.

 

 


 

The former Wales captain revealed he is HIV positive, saying he wants to "break the stigma" around the condition.


 

 

He said he wants to show how people with HIV are misrepresented as "walking around with walking sticks who are close to dying".

He said he had kept his HIV status secret because he feared people would 'treat me like a leper'.

 

 

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, he also told how he was threatened with blackmail, forcing him to tell his family of his HIV status before they heard it from someone else.

 

 

He said: 'I've been living with this secret for years. I've felt shame and keeping such a big secret has taken its toll. 

 
 

'I had a fear people would judge me and treat me like a leper because of a lack of knowledge. 

 

'I was in a dark place, feeling suicidal. I thought about driving off a cliff. Many people live in fear and shame of having HIV, but I refuse to be one of them now.

 

'We need to break the stigma once and for all. I'm speaking out because I want to help others and make a difference.'

 

 

Reacting to the news, Wales Head coach Warren Gatland sent a message to Thomas on behalf of the team.

“There hasn’t been a lot of conversation about it because it’s very fresh news to us at this stage,” said Gatland.

“It’s always sad when an ex-professional sportsman picks up an illness of any kind"

 

 

“Our thoughts go out to him and we hope things are as good as they possibly can be."

“As the players become aware of the news, I’m sure they’ll talk about it.”

Full Sunday Mirror Interview

 

Gatland quotes via: walesonline.co.uk

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