Daily Record

I tried to commit suicide but 999 crew saved me

NOEL TELLS OF PAIN OVER £73m LOSS Edmonds blames banking fraudsters

- ASHLEIGH RAINBIRD reporters@dailyrecor­d.co.uk

NOEL Edmonds has revealed he tried to kill himself after falling victim to financial fraudsters.

The Deal or No Deal star said he was driven “to the brink of emotional annihilati­on” when a group of corrupt HBOS financiers helped destroy his former business Unique Group.

Edmonds praised the emergency services for saving his life after the suicide bid.

The 68-year-old said he checked into the Priory to recover.

Edmonds added: “Until these criminals took me to the brink of emotional annihilati­on, I had always felt those who opt out by taking their own lives were selfish and cowardly.

“But having been cast into that bottomless dark space devoid of logic and reason, I have a much deeper understand­ing of life without hope.

“I seek no sympathy and feel no shame in admitting that on the evening of January 18, 2005, I attempted to end the overwhelmi­ng mental pain which had consumed my whole being.

“The fact that I did not become another suicide statistic is solely due to the swift response of a Devon ambulance crew and the compassion­ate support of the Priory in Bristol.”

Edmonds said that since coming back from the brink of suicide, he has supported welfare charities.

He added: “I have donated generously and gratefully to The Samaritans and privately I use my experience to comfort and support others for whom life has no hope.”

The former HBOS financiers who ruined Edmonds’s business were jailed this year for carrying out a £245million loans scam that destroyed several firms.

The fraudsters splashed millions on high-end prostitute­s and luxury holidays.

Edmonds is seeking £73million in compensati­on from Lloyds Banking Group.

Lloyds, who rescued HBOS during the financial crisis, said in April they would begin making compensati­on offers to fraud victims from a £100million pot.

Payments were expected to begin this month. The banking group said their compensati­on programme is “on track”.

A spokesman for Lloyds said: “We have a clear policy that if a customer says that they are considerin­g taking their own life, that we must take the statement seriously and take action to protect them.”

I seek no sympathy and feel no shame in admitting I attempted suicide NOEL EDMONDS

 ??  ?? REHAB Edmonds checked into the Priory. Picture: Tim Ireland HIT SHOW On Deal or No Deal
REHAB Edmonds checked into the Priory. Picture: Tim Ireland HIT SHOW On Deal or No Deal

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