A man who “lost everything” during the pandemic has revealed how he was left living in his car and washing in a toilet at Asda during his lowest point.
Damon Alexander Cole, from North Wales, said he was left in despair when his life descended into chaos in the space of a week.
The 34-year-old, from Hawarden, lost his home, his job and his relationship just before the grandparents, who raised him, were taken ill.
Damon told North Wales Live it was the "lowest point" of his life, and after living this way for one month he admitted to considering suicide.
But he gave himself an ultimatum allowing himself six months to get out of his "mess."
He told himself if he couldn't turn things around in that time, he would commit suicide.
At the time Damon was living in his car with all of his possessions. He was relying on handouts from food banks and washing in Asda toilets.
He said: "It was this time last year that I became homeless and spent four months living in my car.
"This happened after some seriously bad luck, all in the space of six days.
"I broke up with my fiancé, my nan was diagnosed with cancer and given a short life expectancy...then my grandad got rushed into hospital with water on his lungs.
"I got evicted from my house and got made redundant due to the pandemic, I had to rehome my two dogs after five years together...I had no money, I was completely broken.
"I'd hit lows before but never like this.
"Living in a car, going into food banks for food, washing in Asda toilets, it was my lowest point.
"My nan and grandad were my only family, but my nan forgot who I was because of her dementia and would freak out when I came into her house.
"I had friends but they had families of their own and didn't want to burden them so I didn't tell anyone."
Damon added: "After a month, I started thinking about committing suicide.
"It's not that I wanted to die, it's just that I didn't want to live, not when everything was such a struggle. I'd never before been in a situation that I couldn't repair.
"As you can imagine, losing everything during lockdowns and being completely alone, I didn’t know another way out.
"After a few days of planning it, I decided to make myself a deal, I said to myself: ‘I’ll end it, but only if I first put six months effort in to try and get myself out of this mess and if in six months it’s no better, I’ll do it and I’ll take myself out‘.
"Thank God, I didn't do it, I reframed the whole situation with the attitude 'fake it 'til you make it.'
"I decided to view it as one long wild car camp as I knew there were many other people a lot worse off than me.
"I used McDonald's WiFi during the night to apply for 'working from home jobs' (the irony) and go hiking during the day to take my mind off it all."
Damon started filming his hikes with his videos gaining interest from various media outlets leading to big brands sponsoring his content.
"I just fell in love with the outdoors more than ever, hiking literally saved my life," he added.
"Fast forward to today, I've built back almost all my savings, my hiker Instagram account has a strong following, I've now got a really well-paying job, my own place, I'm soon starting a photography business and chasing my dreams.
"Life is unreal, I've never been happier or more focused, I saved myself. I believe the lower you go, the higher you rise up.
"Anyone who struggling, please rethink, reach out, I’ll gladly listen/help, I've been where you are and I promise it can get much better.
"My DMs are open, come for a hike. I hope at least my journey motivates even one person to go out and rethink.
"You got this!"
