Suicide Attempt
Vandenbroucke had a reputation for "accidents, illnesses, doping allegations, lawsuits, suspicion, surliness and suspensions". He said:
| “ | From August 2004 to August 2005, 12 months that seemed like 100, I was depressed like never before. I decided to be finished with it... That day, I was going to die... I went to fetch the most expensive bottle of wine from my cellar, a magnum Château Petrus 1961. I poured it out and I drank a toast to my life. I'd asked the advice of a doctor. Insulin would do it. I wrote a farewell letter: it knew it was clumsy but for me it was the best solution... "There's no need for an autopsy. I injected 10cc of Actrapid. Please, don't let them open my eyes." ... I was alone. I put on my world champion's jersey, I injected myself and then I went to lie on my bed and I waited to die. I was so happy. No more worries at last... Deliverance at last. It was my mother who found me later that day." |
” |
On 6 June 2007 he was admitted to hospital at Magenta, near Milan, Italy, where he lived. He was reported in "grave" condition. His team-manager, Palmiro Masciarelli, said: "Frank is all alone . He no longer has his wife and he lives by himself. There is no longer a team at his side."
Vandenbroucke had turned down the Giro d'Italia, claiming problems with his knee, on which he had an operation the previous winter. His psychiatrist, Jef Brouwers, said
"... the problems with his knee have affected him badly. He could no longer ride as he wanted after the operation. Nor could the doctors say what the problem was. These last few days, he has been terrible. The people that I called in Italy could no longer help him. He had thought it through and, so far as he was concerned, everything was lost. The situation of his knee has worn him down completely and his private life wasn't good either, with ups and downs."
Read more about this topic: Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)
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