Carol Speed broke down in tears as she spoke about her son's death during a royal visit to launch a mental health initiative. The Prince and Princess of Wales launched 'On Your Side: A Suicide Prevention Toolkit for People in Sport' at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday. The location was chosen to honour the legacy of former Everton footballer Gary Speed, who died by suicide in 2011.
Emotional meeting at memorial bench
Carol Speed met with Prince William and Princess Kate at Gary's memorial bench before speaking to broadcaster Dan Walker. She revealed her ongoing struggle with grief and guilt over her son's death.
"He's always on my mind. I just miss him, I miss him every day really," Carol told 5News. "I feel quite ashamed that I should have known that he was struggling but he didn't give us any idea."
Daily struggle 15 years on
Carol described how difficult daily life remains 15 years after Gary's death. "It's hard to get out of bed in the morning, even now, after 15 years," she said.
Dan Walker, who was with Gary the day before he died, shared his own feelings of regret. He spoke about wondering if he could have done something to help his friend.
Viewers praise bravery
The emotional interview ended with Dan giving Carol a hug, with viewers praising her bravery for speaking so openly about such a personal tragedy.
