Richard Keogh has admitted he suffered with depression after his horror injury in a drink-drive car crash and his subsequent sacking from Derby – and his wife Charlie also revealed she feared he was suicidal, so badly did his mental health suffer.
Keogh, 35, who now plies his trade for Blackpool in the Championship, sustained career-threatening injuries from the crash back in 2019, suffering extensive damage to the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his knee, both of which would require surgery and keep him out of action for over a year.
The defender was a passenger in Tom Lawrence’s car, which crashed into the back of Mason Bennett’s vehicle before careering into a lamp-post following a boozy team night out.
Both Lawrence and Bennett, who were were over the drink-drive limit and fled the scene, leaving Keogh unconscious, were given driving bans and community service after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
Keogh was sacked by Derby for gross misconduct after the high-speed car crash, but won his claim in court for wrongful dismissal and was awarded £2.3million in compensation earlier this year.
Richard Keogh, who now plays for Blackpool, has opened up about suffering with depression after his horror injury in drink-drive car crash and his axing from Derby
Keogh’s wife Charlie (pictured right) revealed he was so low she feared he would self-harm
The Republic of Ireland international has now opened up to the Guardian about his struggles with his mental health following the traumatic incident, with his wife Charlie revealing shocking details of his torment, including her fears that he could have self-harmed.
‘There were times when I went to bed with him downstairs thinking that I’ve got to go down and get a glass of water because he could have done something to himself,’ she told the Guardian.
‘I was going to bed thinking: “Oh my God,” getting that sick feeling. It was awful.’
Keogh was a passenger in the crash that also involved team-mates Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett following a boozy night out. Lawrence’s crumpled car is pictured at the scene
The defender suffered a serious knee injury and did not play for over a year after the crash
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Keogh admits he was suffering with depression at his lowest ebb, but insisted he wasn’t suicidal.
‘I’ve had this conversation before. I wasn’t feeling suicidal. I wasn’t,’ he said.
‘Some days, I was in depression – I genuinely do believe that. But mainly I think I was right on the cusp of it. I was literally on the line for a lot of the time.’
Keogh also revealed that he wasn’t aware Lawrence had been drinking before he got in his car and that his ex-team-mate has been ‘very remorseful’.
‘I hadn’t spent the evening with Tom,’ Keogh addd. ‘I had no reason to believe he was over the limit. Everyone was in there before me so I didn’t think: “Hang on a minute.”
Derby axed Keogh after the crash but later were ordered to pay him £2.3m for unlawful sacking
Keogh’s ex-Derby team-mates Lawrence (left) and Bennett (right) were charged with drink driving, given driving bans and community service
‘It was just: “OK. I need to get home. Let’s go.” The next thing I know I’m waking up and speaking to the paramedics.’
After being sacked by Derby, the team he had played for for the last seven years, Keogh was left clubless and fearing for his career.
But after having successful operations on his injuries, Keogh was eventually snapped up by MK Dons in August last year.
He joined Huddersfield five months later before signing for Blackpool on a free transfer back in the summer and has started in nine of their 10 Championship matches this season.
Source: Daily Mail
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