A man who tried to kill himself after spiralling intro depression due to his weight and lockdown said he was pulled back from the brink by the people of Liverpool.
David McCormack, 43, who was born and grew up in Glasgow, had been living in Liverpool for nearly a year before the pandemic started.
He came to the city to start a college course and a new life after growing up in care and experiencing problems with addiction.
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While studying on the course the pandemic hit and the world went into lockdown. He was living in supported housing and admits he was struggling with his physical and mental health.
David said he had ballooned to his heaviest ever weight of 22 stone 10lbs. He had tried Slimming World which hadn't worked but was playing football to try and get healthier and lose weight.
After moving into his own flat in the city centre at the start of the second lockdown, David said he hit his lowest point with both his mental health and his weight.
David said: "I went to play football and it's hard to describe but I could feel my stomach hitting me when I run.
"Because I've got PTSD, I can just be sitting talking to you and then I'll get a random flashbacks from growing up in care as a child and it just floors me.
"I had a few flashbacks and I thought what's the point being here? I'm in Liverpool, everything is more or less on lockdown and I don't really know anybody.
"And so I just tried to walk in front of a bus.
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"Somebody grabbed me back and I made an excuse at the time that I was on my phone but I knew exactly what I was doing.
"I reached out to somebody and he came and got me straight away and took me to hospital."
After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, David said he wanted to turn his life around and had started going to former featherweight boxing world champion Derry Mathews' gym in Liverpool city centre.
David said: "I'd already been going to Derry Mathews' gym but not very often and he got a grip of me and got me in the fitness classes."
After working out twice a day and working on his diet, David has shed over six stone and is now down to 16 stone 7lbs.
He added: "I'm a completely different person, the journey I've been on. If it wasn't for the gym I wouldn't be alive.
"They saved my life. I come in and people know me as Dave, I'm not Dave the ex-addict I'm not Dave with Bipolar, I'm just Dave.
"I grew up in Glasgow where I was in care and I always used to get called names like 'foster boy' and everything else.
"For the first time in my life I feel like I'm popular and wanted, and people don't want me for what I can get them."
Driven by a desire to help others, David has now started the Merseyside Inclusion League - giving the opportunity to people who have had problems surrounding addiction, mental health, homelessness or in any way felt excluded to be part of a football team.
David said: "I spoke to Derry about the idea and he said I'll sponsor it. It's been phenomenal.
"So much so, the FA have backed it and starting in September there will be a 12 team Inclusion League running over a 24 week period."
He added: "If I can lose six stone in a year, despite having bipolar and PTSD and in addiction recovery, then anyone can do it.
"My real passion is helping people in the way I've been helped. I feel more like a Scouser than I do a Glaswegian if I'm honest.
"This city and the gym has saved my life and taken me in as one of their own."
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