‘Be there for your mates’ – Wendell Sailor warns of destructive forces at work
In light of Dan Vickerman tragedy, former Wallaby great reveals family and friendships helped him deal with ‘destructive and selfish behaviour’
The bond formed between the old guard and new playing for the Classic Wallabies at this year’s GFI HKFC 10s gave Wendell Sailor plenty of time for pause, and for thought given events back home in Australia earlier this year.
When ex-Wallaby Dan Vickerman took his own life, aged 37, on February 18 a reverberating sadness swept through the many players who called the giant lock a friend.
Sailor had played with and against the 63-test veteran and revealed on the sidelines of the 10s that time had seemed to stand still when former teammate Lote Tuqiri called with the news.
“I couldn’t stop crying,” said Sailor. “At 37, he was only young.
“When you talk about depression and about being in a dark place, Dan was the last guy I thought would have depression. So on these rugby trips now, anything I go to, I talk about being there for your mates. In Australia, something like 3,000 people commit suicide [per year] and that’s unbelievable.”
