Rugby legend Gareth Thomas has revealed this weekend that he has had HIV for years.
In an emotional and candid interview, Thomas speaks exclusively to the Sunday Mirror about how he cried when his doctor told him he had HIV.
He said that he felt like driving his car off a cliff.
45-yr-old Thomas is a prominant sporting figure the UK and is the first to announce that he has HIV, having hidden it from the public for years.
According to the Mirror, the former Welsh player 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.
“To me, wanting to die was just a natural thought and felt like the easier way out, but you have to confront things. And having a strong support system and the personal strength and experience of overcoming those emotions got me through it.
“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.”
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