Topics: Reality TV, Mental Health, News, US News, Instagram, Social Media
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Storage Wars star Darrell Sheets opened up about his struggles with depression almost a decade before his tragic death.
The sad news broke this week that the reality TV icon was found dead in Lake Havasu City from an apparent suicide at around 2am on Wednesday (22 April).
Police confirmed that the 67-year-old's body was discovered with what 'appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head'.
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He was pronounced dead on scene, and his body has since been turned over to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s office for further investigation.
Sheets rose to fame on the fan-favourite TV show Storage Wars, which features professional buyers who compete to bid on storage lockers.
The Arizona native, who appeared on more than a hundred episodes of the show between 2010 and 2023, had earned the nickname 'The Gambler' on the show for his risky purchases.
News of his death has prompted a slew of heartfelt tributes from viewers around the world and Sheets' co-stars, including from René Nezhoda, who claims Sheets was 'tormented' by a cyberbully.
And now, an old post has resurfaced where he heartbreakingly detailed his mental health struggles.
As reported by PEOPLE Magazine, in 2018, he wrote a lengthy caption about depression, accompanied by an Instagram post featuring a photo of himself beside a lake wearing sunglasses.
Sheets wrote: "Depression is the Devil's way of attacking us. It knows no mercy, it takes our smiles it comes and goes, it ruins our relationships, it takes away our happiness, it leads to suicide in some cases, it destroys all thoughts of positivity, it is a 24/7 battle and allows no rest for the suffering."
He added, "It's a very real deal. So please next time someone tells you they have Depression, be kind and know that they spend every minute they have breathing, suffering!!!"
As per the outlet, a spokesperson for A&E said in a statement: "We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell 'The Gambler' Sheets. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time."
Breaking his silence on Sheets' death, his on-screen rival René Nezhoda said in a video on Instagram: "This was not an easy video to shoot. Unfortunately, Darrell Sheets took his own life. So he passed away. I know a lot of you guys think we hated each other because we competed a lot on the show. And you know, we had our moments.
"We had our run-ins because we were both competitors, right? We were both competitors with the biggest threat out there."
Speaking about their behind-the-scenes friendship, he added: "So deep down me and Darrell were friends, we talked every now and then. He was a very hard worker that cared more than anyone I’ve ever met about their family, about his son, about Zoe [his granddaughter], pretty much [all the] people in his life.
"Rest in peace Darrell Sheets. Also I know Darrell would want something positive out of this, so he had a guy that [was] really really tormenting him lately. Cyberbullying."
He urged viewers: "Guys, just because you watch us on television, doesn’t mean you know us. It doesn’t mean you know what we’re about. Also, it doesn’t entitle you to bully somebody. That’s not [just] us, that’s anybody. That’s any athlete. You shouldn’t cyberbully at all.
"As a matter of fact, if you have somebody in your life that thinks it’s funny to cyberbully other people, may that be a celebrity, athlete or little girl at school… slap ’em in the back of the head. Make them become a better human being."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk
