Ian Thorpe's father says Olympic champ is back in rehab and 'having a tough time' after being found 'dazed and disorientated in street'
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- February 04, 2014
Thorpe reportedly checks out of rehab 1:38
Ian Thorpe has reportedly checked out of rehab as he battles %quot;crippling depression%quot; and alcohol abuse.
- Found sitting in neighbour's car on drive
- Manager blames antidepressants and painkillers
- 31-year-old 'had not been drinking'
- Father Ken: 'Hopefully he'll be ok in six months'
THE father of Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe choked back tears yesterday as he revealed his son was getting the help he needed with his medication.
In a bizarre incident, the five-time Olympic gold medallist was found by police in a disorientated state, sitting in a white Toyota Starlet parked in the driveway of a home near his parents' house in Panania about 3am yesterday.
GALLERY: SWIM CHAMP IAN THORPE
Former Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe leaving his parents’ home in Panania last week. Source: News Limited
The Thorpe years Source: DailyTelegraph
"He is battling with his health issues at the moment and he is having a tough time,'' Ken Thorpe said of his 31-year-old son, who earlier was wandering the streets.
"But hopefully in six months' time he will be out the other side."
Thorpe is now back in rehab where he is being treated for depression.
The car Ian Thorpe is believed to have tried to get into. Source: News Limited
Last night his manager, James Erskine, said Thorpe had been wandering Paul St disoriented on a mixture of antidepressants and painkillers for an injured shoulder when he sat in a car he thought belonged to a friend named Christian.
"He had not been drinking," he said.
"There would not be one person in Australia with all his success who would not wish him well. Obviously depression is a disease."
A woman at the home where the car was parked said that about 3am she saw Thorpe sitting in her granddaughter's car, which was parked in the driveway.
Australian Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe has health issues and is having a tough time, his father says. Source: News Limited
The woman - who described Thorpe as her "hero and legend" - put an arm around him and comforted him until police and ambulance arrived.
"He was not doing anything wrong, he just looked lost," she said.
She said Thorpe's mother came to talk to her yesterday, adding: "She is very upset."
Another neighbour - who called the police - captured the incident on a CCTV camera but declined to show it to the media out of respect for the swimming legend. A NSW Police spokeswoman said no action would be taken against Thorpe.
Just last week: A happy-looking Ian Thorpe at Tahyna Tozzi’s wedding Source: News Limited
"Emergency services were called to a home in Panania about 3.15am after concerns were raised for a man seen near a vehicle,'' she said.
"Ambulance paramedics took him to hospital for a medical assessment."
The latest breakdown follows an exclusive Daily Telegraph report last week that Thorpe had been receiving treatment for depression.
He had since gone home to stay with his parents after being admitted to a Sydney hospital to fight his decade-long battle with depression and alcohol abuse.
Thorpe was believed to have left hospital early on Friday morning, having been under medical supervision since Wednesday night.
At the time his management denied he was in rehab and claimed he was in hospital for a shoulder operation.
For support and information about depression contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue on 1300 22 46 36.
Thorpe on the podium after winning the men's 200m freestyle gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens / Picture: AFP Source: AFP
