Chris Kamara Reveals the Heartbreaking Reason Behind His Sudden On-Air Exit
Sky Sports pundit Chris Kamara has spoken out about the heart-wrenching diagnosis that led to his sudden exit from television screens. The 67-year-old, known for his rapid commentary, was diagnosed with speech apraxia, a neurological disorder that hinders the conversion of thoughts into speech, making talking difficult.
According to an interview with the Daily Star, Kamara revealed that he had been struggling with the condition for over 18 months and had contemplated if his family would be better off without him. However, with the help of a therapist, he has learned to accept and adapt to his condition.
Kamara’s speech problems began to manifest three years ago, and he initially feared that he might be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s. “It was a really tough period,” he divulged to the Daily Star. “I started feeling really low. I just did not want to be a burden to my family but my illness came to fruition just before the Covid lockdown. I had these stupid thoughts.”
The Daily Star reported that Kamara’s condition gradually took hold, leading him into a dark phase where he contemplated if his family would be better off without him. However, when the lockdown was imposed, his son and family, who reside in Leeds, moved into Kammy’s farm in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where he lives with his wife Anne.
Kamara has now opened up about his diagnosis and the impact it has had on his life. “I kept thinking, for over 18 months, that it would go away. I just kept thinking one day I’ll wake up and I’ll be back to the person I was,” says Kammy, 67. “But I have accepted the way I speak now. And that’s because of the work on my mental health.”
The pundit, who made a comeback to TV punditry on Boxing Day last year, admits that he didn’t reach out to his family when he needed them most. “They spotted the signs (that I was struggling). I should have talked to my wife Anne, for which I have apologised to her. I didn’t tell my wife what was going on.”
Kamara has joined forces with Drinkaware, an alcohol education charity, and Andy’s Man Club, a suicide prevention charity, to delve into the correlation between mid-life men’s (aged 45-64) drinking habits and mental health. In light of Mental Health Awareness Week, commencing Monday May 12, Kammy hopes to raise awareness about the importance of mental health support.
As the Daily Star reported, Kamara’s therapist told him that the day he accepted his condition was the day he would start getting better. “My therapist told me that the day you accept your condition is the day you will start getting better, and that is what happened. I can be my own worst critic but my speech has improved and I’m fine with how I sound.”
Kamara’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health support and the need to talk about things going on inside our heads. As he said, “You need to talk about things going on inside your head…get it off your chest, it’s not like you (come out of a therapy session) feeling cured immediately. But there is a sense of relief – in just talking.”
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