Captains tackle very tall order
It was a captains’ run with a difference as sporting greats braved terrifying heights to put a spotlight on reducing suicide rates in the construction industry.
The daunting challenge, which took place 192m above busy central city streets at Auckland’s SkyWalk yesterday afternoon, drew together a team of stars past and present from the realms of rugby, league, golf, sailing and cricket to raise the profile of MATES in Construction, a charity dedicated to preventing suicide in the workplace.
Between 2017 and 2020 more than 160 construction workers died by suicide, with workers in the building industry five times more likely to die from suicide than a work accident.
“I heard Mark Richardson say he’d rather face Shoab Akhtar downwind, but I think I’d probably rather do that than face Shoab Akhtar,” said Black Cap bowler Tim Southee soon after completing the walk.
“I thought I was an adrenalin junkie but when I walked out that gate my knees were trembling,” said All Black and Blues wing Caleb Clarke.
With family and friends involved in construction, he said he was thrilled to be part of the event.
He said the sudden death of friend and former Blues player Michael
Tamoaieta was never far from his mind.
“He was one of the happiest guys I knew and so I took that really hard when we found out the news because I was with him the day before he died. I thought I could have done more and
I wish I could have talked to him about something different,” said Clarke.
“Whenever I go out to play, I always write his name on my wrist. He’s someone I think about all the time.”
Watching with admiration as the
sporting greats stepped out, former Ma¯ori All Black and MATES field officer Slade McFarland had nothing but praise for their willingness to raise the charity’s profile.
The former professional rugby player said the workplace suicide toll
was devastating and he was passionate about reversing it.
“We’ve got a big job in front of us. The construction industry is almost 250,000-strong. There’s only nine of us and it’s pretty hard for us to get around.”