R.I.P. Darren Sutherland

[FLINT ISLAND]

Darren has been quoted as telling his tranier a fortnight ago that

"My life is a mess"

[WildWaylon]

I knew a milkman who discovered one his customers dead from hanging. He was off work for months and was never the same again.With Frank and Darren there was friendship and its therefore much more difficult for him. Frank is probably the best liked and respected promoters in the business, and our thoughts and prayers are with him. Its going to take a good while before he can cope with normal life, it must have been an unimaginable shock. For Darren I hope he finds peace, where he is now, God bless him.

[Tommy Gunn13]

Tributes by some UK fight figures. Hope no one minds me putting this link in (it is too long to cut and paste), I think it shows how highly respected and rated Darren was in the early stages of his pro career. I thought he was looking very good, solid, strong and with lots of time to refine his style. A lot of people felt that he was one for the future.

http://www.BS.com/?m=show&id=22233

Cheers for the link,very highly thought off as we all knew
still a shocker now..

[JamesH]

Some details about Darren's depression in today Irish Independent...
http://www.independent.ie/national-news ... 87246.html

This is so sad, gave me goose pimples reading it, just thinking of all the 'what if's'...

Terry those comments are great, they show the esteem he was held in. Fully agree with Asterix, Kerrys words just jump out of the page.... Bobby Rimmer mentioned the atmosphere in his gym, bet thats not the only gym like that at the moment.

[Rocky Balboa]

Depression is a evil fcuking thing. There's no cure for it, there's no magic pill that can cure it! If & when the day arrives when a cure is found for depression it will be a day to celebrate!

Its an illness that can go undetected as to a certain extent, was the case with Darren! It appears he was feeling down for quite some time, not just the last week or so!

Credit to Brian Lawrence. He sounds like a guy who's properly there for his fighters. For Darren to confide in him he must have had a solid relationship with Lawrence!

[WildWaylon]

Depression is indeed a terrible thing. Having suffered it myself and been around many in my work who have had breakdowns I know how it can seriously ruin lives. People who take their lives rarely realise how loved and cared for they really were. I remember being at the funeral of a 19 year old who had put a gun in his mouth. Every seat in the crematorium was taken and there were dozens outside. Really determined suicides dont give many outward signs of their intentions, it usually happens quite suddenly. Those recieving help have usually accepted they are ill and carry on with the treatment. People who commit suicide have guts, most of us no matter how depressed we are, just couldnt do it. Its almost impossible to prevent because the level of their despair isnt seen, as they are usually very strong individuals who manage somehow to cover up just how low they are. Family and friends often blame themselves for not recognizing how close the person was to taking their life, but you simply cant tell in most cases. The lad I mentioned appeared normal all week and the night before was with friends laughing and joking. In another "sudden suicide" a pub landlord shook a botle of pop and sprayed friends before going upstairs to hang himself. They usually choose methods that are very final. Taking an overdose doesnt always work, and paracetamol can take days causing a long and painful death, not at all what the person intended.

[Les Kendal]

R.I.P Darren
A tragic loss to boxing, and the world.

[Chambers2]

Some details about Darren's depression in today Irish Independent...
http://www.independent.ie/national-news ... 87246.html

I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye reading that

[leforge]

Very sad story.

[Adamj1987]

that story is just horrible

[FLINT ISLAND]

Depression is indeed a terrible thing. Having suffered it myself and been around many in my work who have had breakdowns I know how it can seriously ruin lives. People who take their lives rarely realise how loved and cared for they really were. I remember being at the funeral of a 19 year old who had put a gun in his mouth. Every seat in the crematorium was taken and there were dozens outside. Really determined suicides dont give many outward signs of their intentions, it usually happens quite suddenly. Those recieving help have usually accepted they are ill and carry on with the treatment. People who commit suicide have guts, most of us no matter how depressed we are, just couldnt do it. Its almost impossible to prevent because the level of their despair isnt seen, as they are usually very strong individuals who manage somehow to cover up just how low they are. Family and friends often blame themselves for not recognizing how close the person was to taking their life, but you simply cant tell in most cases. The lad I mentioned appeared normal all week and the night before was with friends laughing and joking. In another "sudden suicide" a pub landlord shook a botle of pop and sprayed friends before going upstairs to hang himself. They usually choose methods that are very final. Taking an overdose doesnt always work, and paracetamol can take days causing a long and painful death, not at all what the person intended.

This I find to be true.

Its empty vessels like Heather McCartney who go on GMTV and states out loud that she is being so harrased by the media she was contemplating sucide. - thats just attention seeking.

Those who have got the real true intention to do it - cant really find it in them to talk about what they will do.

[U.F.O]

Depression is indeed a terrible thing. Having suffered it myself and been around many in my work who have had breakdowns I know how it can seriously ruin lives. People who take their lives rarely realise how loved and cared for they really were. I remember being at the funeral of a 19 year old who had put a gun in his mouth. Every seat in the crematorium was taken and there were dozens outside. Really determined suicides dont give many outward signs of their intentions, it usually happens quite suddenly. Those recieving help have usually accepted they are ill and carry on with the treatment. People who commit suicide have guts, most of us no matter how depressed we are, just couldnt do it. Its almost impossible to prevent because the level of their despair isnt seen, as they are usually very strong individuals who manage somehow to cover up just how low they are. Family and friends often blame themselves for not recognizing how close the person was to taking their life, but you simply cant tell in most cases. The lad I mentioned appeared normal all week and the night before was with friends laughing and joking. In another "sudden suicide" a pub landlord shook a botle of pop and sprayed friends before going upstairs to hang himself. They usually choose methods that are very final. Taking an overdose doesnt always work, and paracetamol can take days causing a long and painful death, not at all what the person intended.

This I find to be true.

Its empty vessels like Heather McCartney who go on GMTV and states out loud that she is being so harrased by the media she was contemplating sucide. - thats just attention seeking.

Those who have got the real true intention to do it - cant really find it in them to talk about what they will do.

All very true my best friend killed himself a few years back and knowbody even knew he was depressed.

As you said family and friends blame themsleves but in reallity what i have come to realise over time is that if someone will not tell you how they are truly feeling then you can never know what is going on in their head.

There are the other people that will openly admit they are dreppressed and have even half heartedly atemped suicide but these cases are usually the cry for help type but at least in time these people can be helped. Others unfortunately can not.

R.I.P Darren :(

[martino]

darren was a fighter with serious potential
he was everyones choice out of the olympics
to do well in the pro's weather he won gold or bronze
unreplaceable
R.I.P Darren.

[n1ebf]

it's a fckin shame alright. Not only was he physically as strong as an oxe but also a very bright boy too by the sounds of it.....presumably he realised these things himself but did it anyway....it's not for me or anybody else to judge, i just wish that somebody had gotten hold of him first. The fact that he had an appointment with the shrink already but still took his life is a real, real shame. He obviously decided whatever was bothering him could not be helped by an outsider, his strong-headedness obviously did not help him, because IMO, sumtimes, these outsiders, counsellors etc..part of their job is to still help people even though those people may themselves think that all hope is lost.
Just a horrible, horrible shame....the lad was obviously a pure grafter, he put a million times more in than he got out in the end. It's a major loss for boxing but nothing compared to the loss that it is for his family.
Rest In Peace Dazzo.

[dbf]

He always came across as so humble and pleasent on TV. He boxed with style, and excitement. I really enjoyed watching him box.

I am truly upset, we have a lost a future star. My thoughts go to his family and friends.

RIP Darren.

[kevin mac]

R.I.P

tragic story .. was a top fighter

[Srebmun]

May the road rise to meet you Darren and the wind be at your back.

RIP A Chara

[Flav1]

RIP Darren.

[Matt W]

Reading about Darren's depression is terribly sad and is something I can relate to having been there myself. It's a horrendous this to suffer with and I wouldn't wish it on anybody. It is the loneliest thing I have ever experienced and the cruellest thing about it is that it takes away all self-confidence and hope, whilst those things are the very things that are needed if you are to recover.

I was really saddened to read that he had an appointment with a psychologist the day he died. It was seeing one that ultimately led to my recovery despite my belief that it was a lost cause. I feel really sad for his family and friends as it is so hard to understand unless you've been there.

At the very least I hope this can raise awareness about how serious an illness depression is, especially for young men who may well feel they have nobody to turn to.

[Autobarn]

He always came across as so humble and pleasent on TV. He boxed with style, and excitement. I really enjoyed watching him box.

I am truly upset, we have a lost a future star. My thoughts go to his family and friends.

RIP Darren.

I feel the same way. He was so clinical, strong and composed in the ring. Then in the post fight interviews, he always looked a little sheepish, like a normal person who was placed in extraordinary circumstances (contract with top promoter, big future, huge expectations). Like he couldn't quite believe he was there. He came across as a future world class fighter who was very down to earth and humble. It made it easy for me to root for him and it makes his death even harder to take.

[Spud]

I am still in shock - not only is it deeply humbling to hear of Darren's departure and some of the reasons behind it - it is also humbling to read some of the posters from this forum own stories too.

I was talking about this on the phone to someone and he didn't believe me when I stated that although I am no way connected to Darren it has really made me sit down and think about things and I was going to change tact in my approach to a lot of things I do and say and possibly even write on bloody forums like this.

[hurlock]

i think darren's story will allway's have me in shock,its believed he had battled depression before & was ok,i suppose this bout of depression was way too much for him, with know one to help him which is really sad.
he had said london was like one big training camp,i suppose its were it might of kicked in especially being isolated from friends & family in a 1 bedroom, a sacrifice he didnt weigh up.
i feel sorry for maloney & lawrence as they must of seen it loads of times were a kid dont fancy it or has a turn in heart,in darrens case he was battling with demons,hopefully awareness can come from this as it is common.

[stujones]

Unfortunately, in my line of work I deal with some very depressed although thankfully I have nobody has taken their lives although there have been some serious attempts where they have ended in hospital.

I have had to inform a class of students about a death of another student which was suicide, that was a heart breaking experience. One I hope I don't have to go through again.

As the poster said here, depression is something that can be disguised very well. People who mention suicide regularly will rarely do anything. Although I do have an experience of a friend who appeared to be very happy-go-lucky, but had a tough life with an ill wife - kind of say it as a joke and the next day he was found hanged.

Frank must not feel guilty about "not doing enough" for Darren, or providing help fast enough, it is very hard to spot and very difficult to prevent. I am sure a clinical psychologist might have helped, but it is very difficult to help and believe me it is very difficult to "predict" how far a depressed person will go even after many weeks of proffesional counseling. My view on suicide is slightly controvesial, most people say its a "cowards" way out. I actually think a person who is so very depressed that they have taken their own life - is actually brave. They know the consequences it is going to have on their family and friends, but feel there is no way out of their current lifestyle. I've counselled depressed people and often hear "I would kill myself if I was braver".

I must say I am feeling very guilty about my posts being critical of Darren's chances of making it all the way. If I would have known that Darren suffered from depression, I would never have said such a thing. Its the complete opposite of what I would do when dealing with someone proffesionally who suffers from depression.

Respect to Matt W for his brave post.

[Gray-Fox]

Nice tribute below by our own DB Flex. Telling stuff about Sutherland's conduct during the Floyd Mayweather open training day sessions. Still seems hard to believe that someone who was destined for an exciting career felt that he had to take this step.

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/BN08/detail.asp?id=1266

Who wrote this Terry?

[Asterix]

Nice tribute below by our own DB Flex. Telling stuff about Sutherland's conduct during the Floyd Mayweather open training day sessions. Still seems hard to believe that someone who was destined for an exciting career felt that he had to take this step.

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/BN08/detail.asp?id=1266

Who wrote this Terry?

Danny Flexen.