February 25, 2025 • 15 mins
Keegan Verho made headlines last week as being the guy who fell asleep on a crane on the Gold Coast 100 metres in the air. However, there is more to his story and in this unedited interview, Keegan explains his personal battle with gambling and bipolar.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning Keegan, Good morning guys.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
How are we well?
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Thank you? Well, you've been the talk of the town
with climbing up onto the crane and then falling asleep
on the crane. Can you talk to us? First of all,
well done for being so courageous for fronting the media.
You're on Channel seven with Amanda Bate and now you're
here with us. Well done on that. What is behind
you saying yes I am that guy? Because most people
would go and be embarrassed and full of shame and hide.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I think a lot of people thought it was going
to be more of a publicity stunt, and I just
want to shed some light on some bigger issues around
gambling and mental health, men's mental health in construction as well.
And I think that by me coming forward with my
story my shame, that hopefully it can inced by other
people to come forward as well.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
How quick did you realize it?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
You felt like you wanted to talk out about it,
because I mean, this has just happened, so you obviously
had a realization I can be positive about this.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, It's all obviously all unfolded very very quickly for me,
and I was presented with an opportunity to speak out
about it. Obviously, seeing yourself on camera on news without
any backstory is a little bit unfortunate. You feel like
there's so much more to be said. You want people
to get the right idea because everyone thinks of it
as you know, the hangover.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
That's what I said that on air. I need to
apologize to you. We were talking about it on Friday
and I was like, is this the hangover? Is this
the theme?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Just a big That's exactly how it was portrayed immediately,
and that it's not so much clearing my name but
bringing awareness to the issue.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
So talk us through. Let's go back to the beginning.
You were out and you were at the casino, so
that's where the story. I guess the hangover comes from.
What was going on in your life.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It was a pretty normal day. I came home, went
to the gym, did my normal routine. Friends went to bed.
Obviously they knew about my struggles and battles with gambling,
and I waited till they went to bed, and it
was my dirty little secret. I snuck out, went to
the casino at about ten thirty, blew my entire page
check with seven different bank transactions and withdrawals and then yeah,
(02:06):
and you realized, yeah, left there at four point thirty.
Just the shame, the guilt, the embarrassment, and I really
did just spiral. Just having no control over yourself in
that moment and having something have that much power over
you is truly scary, and especially in the sober mind
that I was in, it's really scary to think that
(02:26):
it can have that effect.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
On you hadn't been drinking, so what what then?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
When you saw the crane.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Like sight and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
That's where the story gets a bit dicey, because there
is quite literally no recollection. I remember walking over the
bridge leaving the casino very very very frantic and very manic,
and the next thing I knew, I kind of came
through forty stories up, which was very frightening.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
So you don't remember climbing.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I do not remember a thing now, How dice it
was that when you're up there and you woke up.
How precarious was it where you were lying? Is it
a case where you could have just rolled off?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yes? I was actually on the concrete counter lever of
the crane, so no guardrails up on the edge. I
think they've used the term centimeters from death. But yeah,
very very fortunate and very lucky to be here, which
is why I really want to make the most of
this second chance of life that I've been given.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah, where are your parents and family? What's your story?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So my parents are in the defense Force. They're quite
scattered around. So my mum's down in Canberra, my dad's
up in cans I've got a sister in Darwin, so
I'm kind of just down here.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Do they know you've got a gambling addiction?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They do?
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Now, Okay, that's a good thing. It's a good thing
to share that.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Have they been able to step in with some support
and almost like an intervention type thing or just a
lot of love and just.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
A lot of love and support and a lot of
patients giving me the time that I need to work
through this and do what I need to do to
sort myself out first and foremost, But just assure them
that I am Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
When did the gambling start?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
That's the scary thing. Only twelve months ago. I played
my first pokey twelve months ago, and in the time
that has transpired from then, I've gambled away moderate five figures.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
With friends did they introduce you to it?
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Like, is it a case where all the boys are
getting together having a beer at the casino and going,
you know, wandering off between beers to have a play.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, so it started off in a pub. I did
some away work, played my first pokey there with the boys.
It's all fun in games and then it's like, oh,
this is a good feeling, and then you keep doing it.
You keep doing it, and then I came back to
the coast. I unfortunately live very close to the casino,
so it was readily accessible for me. And i'd actually
(04:49):
had a pretty significant loss like this before, where I
was feeling quite down and I was supported by my friends.
We spoke about banning myself. I didn't follow through with it.
I told them I would change. But that's the thing
with addiction. A lot of people will say they can
change and say they will change, but it's actually acting
upon that and bringing awareness to it where the real
magic happens.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Yeah, you need to join a group, you need to
take it a step further. Self. Banning's very hard for
anyone with anything, and there are so many things that addictive,
Like we talk all the time about sugar and how
hard we find to stop sugar. I mean, there are
so many things in this world that are easily addictive
and very hard to stop on your own. So don't
you feel bad about not being able to stop on
(05:31):
your own. You need more support. What's happened since then?
So you've wake up, you're on the ledge? What happened next?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
I guess it was trying to piece together the night
and how I got there, obviously to no avail. And
then once I started to see the Alimac startup and
people start to rock up on site, it was okay,
I have to kind of stay up here. I can't
be seen. I don't want to get in trouble. I
just want to get home safely. I passed out again
and then came through and they positioned the crane so
(06:03):
I was over the building, so if in the unfortunate
event I did fall, it wasn't as far over a fall,
and I was just going to wait out the day
and then shimmy down.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And who saw you?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I still don't know to this day. There's been some photos.
I don't know if it was somebody from site, a
neighboring building, but I'm very lucky that they did see me.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Did they come up then they climbed up to escort
you down.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, So I was kind of sitting there and then
two police officers rocked up and just said, you know,
do you want to come down.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Have a chat?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And then they were nice.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It was they were very, very nice. They were very understanding.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Were you relieved, like, even though that that was going
to be the confronting bit about the shame and people
seeing you, were you also relieved that a was going
to this is now changing straight away rather than waiting
and worrying about what's going to happen. It was like
clear you were going to get down.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So there was a little bit of relief, but there
was also obviously the shame and the guilt and then
heading down seeing the amount of people that were there,
and I didn't really want to inconvenience that many people
with my dramas, as anyone in that sort of mental
frame doesn't really want to do. Seeing the rescue team, ambulance, police,
(07:21):
street shut down, obviously, all the people on site. They
just want to get on with their day on Friday.
Like I'm in that industry, I understand that.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
And they took you to hospital and everything. Yeah, has
that been good. Has that offered you any help?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah? So I'm currently seeking help obviously with my own
mental troubles, and that's obviously just an ongoing process, so
journey of a thousand miles, but I've taken the first
step now, which is obviously the hardest. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Great. And have you ever had a blank out moment before?
Or was this your first?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
This was the first. I've obviously had episodes where I
feel out of control, but I've never had a situation
where I've completely black with no recollection, obviously without the
influence of you know, alcohol.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Okay, Has alcohol been a way of you to get
out of feeling anxiety and those sorts of things.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Have you gone to alcohol in the past.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I'm actually very fortunate. I've experienced a few things in
my life where I don't particularly favor alcohol. I've just
seen the damage that it can do to, you know,
members of my family and through the things that I've
lived through, and I can recognize that it's really an
unhealthy thing. It's quite literally poison, let's be real.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah good, Yeah, that's one thing, isn't it that's going
to be on your side in recovery.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Can you pinpoint things in your life growing up. That
would be part of where you're at now with your
mental health, Like you have you talked to professionals about
situations in your past that you have.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
To work through or is this new or is this
just a pokey just got you.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I'm very fortunate in the fact that I say fortunate.
It's taken me a long time to come to that
realization that the things that have happened to me throughout
the course of my life have actually happened for me
and not to me. So I have been seeing professionals
since I was about eleven or twelve years old, and
I'm quite open with that with the people around me,
but I think it's important to vocalize the importance of
(09:21):
seeking professional help and talking to somebody, whether it's your friend,
a therapist, to school therapist, which is where it started
for me. And over time, I've developed a skill set
of tools that helped me regulate my emotions, come to
terms with how I'm feeling, and regulate those things. And
I've always been that person for other people. So now
for me to be on the other side of the coin,
(09:41):
it's quite scary, and I really hope I can help
people in any.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Way and help yourself too. Yeah, absolutely in all of this. Absolutely,
So what is next for you? Now you've obviously been fined,
You had to get a fine. What was that fine
for again, trespassing or something?
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, they said trespassing. I'm still yet to receive anything
about that one.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
But okay, I hope they approached with kindness.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, and then what else for you? So you're utilizing
your voice to try and help others, But what are
your next steps?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Obviously, because it has unfolded very quickly, I'm just going
to try and take a little bit of time to
obviously make sure that I'm okay in my own space.
But I've been given an opportunity to speak up and
use a platform, and these opportunities don't present themselves very often,
so I really want to take advantage of this moment now,
raise some awareness. And it's just a day by day thing.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Back at work yet or whatsoever?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
And not yet? No, I have to be due to
the nature of my work, being a sparky, I have
to be clear to go back to high risk work.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Okay, And there are other do you know other people
in trades that are going through similar things?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
And what you're going through with the gambling. Is it everywhere?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, I've been actually inundated with messages, direct messages on Instagram,
people reaching out telling their story, telling me that I'm
not alone, which is really amazing because gambling as a
whole and mental health can be a very isolating thing
and it can lead people to do irreversible damage to themselves.
And it's important to know that every single person in
(11:18):
this life is loved and appreciated and has a special
place that the world is better off with that minute.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Okay, so what is your message? Just try not to
get into gambling. If you do get into gambling, speak up.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
What is would be the easy way out, But let's
be honest, it's going to happen. There needs to be
some serious reform and awareness around gambling as a whole.
I think a lot of people don't understand the probability
of it and that you are quite literally set up
to fail. They've got things called RTP return to play,
which is a percentage that they returned to the gambler,
(11:51):
and there's a lot of things that people don't see
behind the scenes, and I think with the amount of
money that is generated from it, and the percentage that
the government takes as well. It creates a very very
dicey area.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
It's a hard one because we do have lots of
rules you know, that we have to say and do
with all of the gambling ads. But it's still out there,
isn't it, And it still catches you.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I mean, you sit down and watch Thursday Night foota
with the family halftime, there's sports betting ads and you're
putting that in front of young children.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
I think it's more it's younger people. There are more
younger people gambling today than what I can remember.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
It's becoming in a different, different form.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Like growing up, I had friends that gamble, but it
was just there's not as many options. It would be
like the races, horse racing, maybe some Pokey's. But now
it's like online online betting, a lot of football betting.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Games of your phone and it's in your house.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
And it opens up other problems too, with the pressure
that it's on social media that the individuals are putting
on professional sports people. They're getting abused because they didn't
perform so that the bet was one, you know what
I mean. So it's causing other issues.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
How are you going with some of the negative feedback
that you might be seeing and reading. You touched on
in the beginning that people were joking that it was
the hangover. Are you okay with what's coming your way?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I think in life people are always going to have
their judgments and have their own opinions about you. I
know in my heart what happened that night, And as
long as I can get out there it be myself
and try and make a difference, that's all that really
matters to me.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Okay, well you're doing that, hopefully very brave.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
So you kind of just rock bottom and then you
just had almost like a turn, like you went into
a fluster, almost like oh my.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
God, what have I done?
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Yeah? Yeah, The best way I can describe it was you,
I mean, ironic, given forty stories up, but rock bottom?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Yea yeah, okay, So do you have any money to
pay your rent and bills this week?
Speaker 3 (13:52):
It was responsible. I paid rent prior to going to
the casino.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Great.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, I'm a good at all like that.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
But yeah, adulting is hard. Oh so you're only twenty four,
aren't you?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Twenty three?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Twenty three? Adulting's hard, mate, I'm still not nailing it,
and I'm forty eight, So just don't be too hard
on yourself with that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Yeah, that's been the message. I've been related a couple
of times not to be so hard on myself. But
we fall, we get back up, and like I said,
I've been given a second chance of life and I
really want to make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Yeah, new days of the other thing. You make it
through a day and then the next day's a new day.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Well that's it. I mean you asked about my plans
for the future. It's kind of day by day at
the moment.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah, yeah, live in the moment.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Good on you. Lovely to meet you, mate.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Yeah, thank you for all the best with everything, and
what a positive message out of something not so positive.
But you never know, you've already turned it around.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Life is what you make of it.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, it's right, mate, keep making some good choices like
this and just know that you've actually started something that
now everyone's got you back. All right, we're here, the
services that helped you, we're all here, all right. So
good on you, beautiful, Thank you, And.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
If you require a lifeline at any time, given a
call twenty four hours a day.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Thirteen eleven, fourteen,
Good morning Keegan, Good morning guys.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
How are we well?
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Thank you? Well, you've been the talk of the town
with climbing up onto the crane and then falling asleep
on the crane. Can you talk to us? First of all,
well done for being so courageous for fronting the media.
You're on Channel seven with Amanda Bate and now you're
here with us. Well done on that. What is behind
you saying yes I am that guy? Because most people
would go and be embarrassed and full of shame and hide.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I think a lot of people thought it was going
to be more of a publicity stunt, and I just
want to shed some light on some bigger issues around
gambling and mental health, men's mental health in construction as well.
And I think that by me coming forward with my
story my shame, that hopefully it can inced by other
people to come forward as well.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
How quick did you realize it?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
You felt like you wanted to talk out about it,
because I mean, this has just happened, so you obviously
had a realization I can be positive about this.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, It's all obviously all unfolded very very quickly for me,
and I was presented with an opportunity to speak out
about it. Obviously, seeing yourself on camera on news without
any backstory is a little bit unfortunate. You feel like
there's so much more to be said. You want people
to get the right idea because everyone thinks of it
as you know, the hangover.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
That's what I said that on air. I need to
apologize to you. We were talking about it on Friday
and I was like, is this the hangover? Is this
the theme?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Just a big That's exactly how it was portrayed immediately,
and that it's not so much clearing my name but
bringing awareness to the issue.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
So talk us through. Let's go back to the beginning.
You were out and you were at the casino, so
that's where the story. I guess the hangover comes from.
What was going on in your life.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It was a pretty normal day. I came home, went
to the gym, did my normal routine. Friends went to bed.
Obviously they knew about my struggles and battles with gambling,
and I waited till they went to bed, and it
was my dirty little secret. I snuck out, went to
the casino at about ten thirty, blew my entire page
check with seven different bank transactions and withdrawals and then yeah,
(02:06):
and you realized, yeah, left there at four point thirty.
Just the shame, the guilt, the embarrassment, and I really
did just spiral. Just having no control over yourself in
that moment and having something have that much power over
you is truly scary, and especially in the sober mind
that I was in, it's really scary to think that
(02:26):
it can have that effect.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
On you hadn't been drinking, so what what then?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
When you saw the crane.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Like sight and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
That's where the story gets a bit dicey, because there
is quite literally no recollection. I remember walking over the
bridge leaving the casino very very very frantic and very manic,
and the next thing I knew, I kind of came
through forty stories up, which was very frightening.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
So you don't remember climbing.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I do not remember a thing now, How dice it
was that when you're up there and you woke up.
How precarious was it where you were lying? Is it
a case where you could have just rolled off?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yes? I was actually on the concrete counter lever of
the crane, so no guardrails up on the edge. I
think they've used the term centimeters from death. But yeah,
very very fortunate and very lucky to be here, which
is why I really want to make the most of
this second chance of life that I've been given.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah, where are your parents and family? What's your story?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So my parents are in the defense Force. They're quite
scattered around. So my mum's down in Canberra, my dad's
up in cans I've got a sister in Darwin, so
I'm kind of just down here.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Do they know you've got a gambling addiction?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They do?
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Now, Okay, that's a good thing. It's a good thing
to share that.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Have they been able to step in with some support
and almost like an intervention type thing or just a
lot of love and just.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
A lot of love and support and a lot of
patients giving me the time that I need to work
through this and do what I need to do to
sort myself out first and foremost, But just assure them
that I am Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
When did the gambling start?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
That's the scary thing. Only twelve months ago. I played
my first pokey twelve months ago, and in the time
that has transpired from then, I've gambled away moderate five figures.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
With friends did they introduce you to it?
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Like, is it a case where all the boys are
getting together having a beer at the casino and going,
you know, wandering off between beers to have a play.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, so it started off in a pub. I did
some away work, played my first pokey there with the boys.
It's all fun in games and then it's like, oh,
this is a good feeling, and then you keep doing it.
You keep doing it, and then I came back to
the coast. I unfortunately live very close to the casino,
so it was readily accessible for me. And i'd actually
(04:49):
had a pretty significant loss like this before, where I
was feeling quite down and I was supported by my friends.
We spoke about banning myself. I didn't follow through with it.
I told them I would change. But that's the thing
with addiction. A lot of people will say they can
change and say they will change, but it's actually acting
upon that and bringing awareness to it where the real
magic happens.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Yeah, you need to join a group, you need to
take it a step further. Self. Banning's very hard for
anyone with anything, and there are so many things that addictive,
Like we talk all the time about sugar and how
hard we find to stop sugar. I mean, there are
so many things in this world that are easily addictive
and very hard to stop on your own. So don't
you feel bad about not being able to stop on
(05:31):
your own. You need more support. What's happened since then?
So you've wake up, you're on the ledge? What happened next?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
I guess it was trying to piece together the night
and how I got there, obviously to no avail. And
then once I started to see the Alimac startup and
people start to rock up on site, it was okay,
I have to kind of stay up here. I can't
be seen. I don't want to get in trouble. I
just want to get home safely. I passed out again
and then came through and they positioned the crane so
(06:03):
I was over the building, so if in the unfortunate
event I did fall, it wasn't as far over a fall,
and I was just going to wait out the day
and then shimmy down.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And who saw you?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I still don't know to this day. There's been some photos.
I don't know if it was somebody from site, a
neighboring building, but I'm very lucky that they did see me.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Did they come up then they climbed up to escort
you down.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, So I was kind of sitting there and then
two police officers rocked up and just said, you know,
do you want to come down.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Have a chat?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And then they were nice.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It was they were very, very nice. They were very understanding.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Were you relieved, like, even though that that was going
to be the confronting bit about the shame and people
seeing you, were you also relieved that a was going
to this is now changing straight away rather than waiting
and worrying about what's going to happen. It was like
clear you were going to get down.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So there was a little bit of relief, but there
was also obviously the shame and the guilt and then
heading down seeing the amount of people that were there,
and I didn't really want to inconvenience that many people
with my dramas, as anyone in that sort of mental
frame doesn't really want to do. Seeing the rescue team, ambulance, police,
(07:21):
street shut down, obviously, all the people on site. They
just want to get on with their day on Friday.
Like I'm in that industry, I understand that.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
And they took you to hospital and everything. Yeah, has
that been good. Has that offered you any help?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah? So I'm currently seeking help obviously with my own
mental troubles, and that's obviously just an ongoing process, so
journey of a thousand miles, but I've taken the first
step now, which is obviously the hardest. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Great. And have you ever had a blank out moment before?
Or was this your first?
Speaker 3 (07:51):
This was the first. I've obviously had episodes where I
feel out of control, but I've never had a situation
where I've completely black with no recollection, obviously without the
influence of you know, alcohol.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Okay, Has alcohol been a way of you to get
out of feeling anxiety and those sorts of things.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Have you gone to alcohol in the past.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I'm actually very fortunate. I've experienced a few things in
my life where I don't particularly favor alcohol. I've just
seen the damage that it can do to, you know,
members of my family and through the things that I've
lived through, and I can recognize that it's really an
unhealthy thing. It's quite literally poison, let's be real.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah good, Yeah, that's one thing, isn't it that's going
to be on your side in recovery.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Can you pinpoint things in your life growing up. That
would be part of where you're at now with your
mental health, Like you have you talked to professionals about
situations in your past that you have.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
To work through or is this new or is this
just a pokey just got you.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I'm very fortunate in the fact that I say fortunate.
It's taken me a long time to come to that
realization that the things that have happened to me throughout
the course of my life have actually happened for me
and not to me. So I have been seeing professionals
since I was about eleven or twelve years old, and
I'm quite open with that with the people around me,
but I think it's important to vocalize the importance of
(09:21):
seeking professional help and talking to somebody, whether it's your friend,
a therapist, to school therapist, which is where it started
for me. And over time, I've developed a skill set
of tools that helped me regulate my emotions, come to
terms with how I'm feeling, and regulate those things. And
I've always been that person for other people. So now
for me to be on the other side of the coin,
(09:41):
it's quite scary, and I really hope I can help
people in any.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Way and help yourself too. Yeah, absolutely in all of this. Absolutely,
So what is next for you? Now you've obviously been fined,
You had to get a fine. What was that fine
for again, trespassing or something?
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, they said trespassing. I'm still yet to receive anything
about that one.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
But okay, I hope they approached with kindness.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, and then what else for you? So you're utilizing
your voice to try and help others, But what are
your next steps?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Obviously, because it has unfolded very quickly, I'm just going
to try and take a little bit of time to
obviously make sure that I'm okay in my own space.
But I've been given an opportunity to speak up and
use a platform, and these opportunities don't present themselves very often,
so I really want to take advantage of this moment now,
raise some awareness. And it's just a day by day thing.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Back at work yet or whatsoever?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
And not yet? No, I have to be due to
the nature of my work, being a sparky, I have
to be clear to go back to high risk work.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Okay, And there are other do you know other people
in trades that are going through similar things?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
And what you're going through with the gambling. Is it everywhere?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, I've been actually inundated with messages, direct messages on Instagram,
people reaching out telling their story, telling me that I'm
not alone, which is really amazing because gambling as a
whole and mental health can be a very isolating thing
and it can lead people to do irreversible damage to themselves.
And it's important to know that every single person in
(11:18):
this life is loved and appreciated and has a special
place that the world is better off with that minute.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Okay, so what is your message? Just try not to
get into gambling. If you do get into gambling, speak up.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
What is would be the easy way out, But let's
be honest, it's going to happen. There needs to be
some serious reform and awareness around gambling as a whole.
I think a lot of people don't understand the probability
of it and that you are quite literally set up
to fail. They've got things called RTP return to play,
which is a percentage that they returned to the gambler,
(11:51):
and there's a lot of things that people don't see
behind the scenes, and I think with the amount of
money that is generated from it, and the percentage that
the government takes as well. It creates a very very
dicey area.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
It's a hard one because we do have lots of
rules you know, that we have to say and do
with all of the gambling ads. But it's still out there,
isn't it, And it still catches you.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I mean, you sit down and watch Thursday Night foota
with the family halftime, there's sports betting ads and you're
putting that in front of young children.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
I think it's more it's younger people. There are more
younger people gambling today than what I can remember.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
It's becoming in a different, different form.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Like growing up, I had friends that gamble, but it
was just there's not as many options. It would be
like the races, horse racing, maybe some Pokey's. But now
it's like online online betting, a lot of football betting.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Games of your phone and it's in your house.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
And it opens up other problems too, with the pressure
that it's on social media that the individuals are putting
on professional sports people. They're getting abused because they didn't
perform so that the bet was one, you know what
I mean. So it's causing other issues.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
How are you going with some of the negative feedback
that you might be seeing and reading. You touched on
in the beginning that people were joking that it was
the hangover. Are you okay with what's coming your way?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
I think in life people are always going to have
their judgments and have their own opinions about you. I
know in my heart what happened that night, And as
long as I can get out there it be myself
and try and make a difference, that's all that really
matters to me.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Okay, well you're doing that, hopefully very brave.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
So you kind of just rock bottom and then you
just had almost like a turn, like you went into
a fluster, almost like oh my.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
God, what have I done?
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Yeah? Yeah, The best way I can describe it was you,
I mean, ironic, given forty stories up, but rock bottom?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Yea yeah, okay, So do you have any money to
pay your rent and bills this week?
Speaker 3 (13:52):
It was responsible. I paid rent prior to going to
the casino.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Great.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, I'm a good at all like that.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
But yeah, adulting is hard. Oh so you're only twenty four,
aren't you?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Twenty three?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Twenty three? Adulting's hard, mate, I'm still not nailing it,
and I'm forty eight, So just don't be too hard
on yourself with that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Yeah, that's been the message. I've been related a couple
of times not to be so hard on myself. But
we fall, we get back up, and like I said,
I've been given a second chance of life and I
really want to make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Yeah, new days of the other thing. You make it
through a day and then the next day's a new day.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Well that's it. I mean you asked about my plans
for the future. It's kind of day by day at
the moment.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah, yeah, live in the moment.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Good on you. Lovely to meet you, mate.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Yeah, thank you for all the best with everything, and
what a positive message out of something not so positive.
But you never know, you've already turned it around.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Life is what you make of it.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, it's right, mate, keep making some good choices like
this and just know that you've actually started something that
now everyone's got you back. All right, we're here, the
services that helped you, we're all here, all right. So
good on you, beautiful, Thank you, And.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
If you require a lifeline at any time, given a
call twenty four hours a day.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Thirteen eleven, fourteen,
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com