Rio Ferdinand has discussed his struggle to cope with his role as a single parent following the death of his wife.
Rebecca Ferdinand died from breast cancer in May 2015. She was just 34.
Nearly two years on, the former Manchester United and England footballer has taken the brave decision to open up about his loss in a BBC documentary – Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad – which will air on Tuesday evening.
In a newly released clip from the documentary, which explores ways of dealing with grief, a tearful Ferdinand can be seen speaking of his concerns for his three children, 11-year-old Lorenz, nine-year-old Tate, and daughter Tia, five.
“This is one of the only things in life we’re going to go through together where I haven’t got the answers for them,” he says. “That’s quite a worrying, daunting thing.”
“When they don’t speak it’s kind of difficult sometimes. You’re just sitting there going like ‘What are they thinking, where are they? Are they worried, are they happy, are they sad?’
“I worry about all of them, but… I just can’t get nothing out of the two boys especially.
“It’s hard. I want something to be able to help them to talk and to be able to… not give me something but just so I know they’re actually alright, because I don’t know.”
In May 2015 @rioferdy5 lost his wife Rebecca to cancer.
He is still trying to come to terms with this loss. #BeingMumAndDad pic.twitter.com/cl4PWE8FJL
— BBC Three (@bbcthree) March 27, 2017
Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad will be on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday evening.
While it promises to be a difficult watch, Ferdinand deserves enormous credit for having the courage to tackle such a sensitive and personal matter in a way that might help others in similar situations.
