Dean Cooper, a 46-year-old father from Lewannick, Cornwall, reveals how his alcohol addiction, triggered by work and family stress, nearly killed him and led him to contemplate suicide. His children's desperate plea and a life-threatening collapse prompted him to change his life.
From high-functioning alcoholic to near-death
Dean, an IT director, would drink up to 10 pints a day to cope with pressure. He said, 'From the outside, I looked fine - I had a high-level job, and was providing for my family, performing, delivering. I was the guy holding everything together while quietly falling apart.'
His drinking escalated after a 2019 accident at a gymnastics centre left him with a shattered collarbone and dislocated shoulder, requiring surgery. What started as one drink a night turned into 10 pints as his anxiety grew.
The breaking point: a train platform and a heart attack scare
In 2020, Dean briefly considered suicide. He said, 'I was standing on a train platform and for a split second, I almost stepped forward. I just said to my wife, 'I get it now' - why people jump.'
His health deteriorated further, and he suffered a near-fatal collapse. His children, one with autism and ADHD, begged him not to die. Dean recalled, 'My kids begged me not to die. That was the moment I knew I had to change.'
The cost of addiction: £20 a day and long-term damage
Dean spent around £20 a day on alcohol. He admitted, 'I have done long term damage to my body, but with focus and understanding that I was worth saving and my children needed me, I beat the craving - and also the mental fear of dying.'
He now advocates for mental health awareness and urges others to seek help before it's too late.
