'Climbing mountains has helped me cope with grief'

Aaron Chadwick said he felt "weak and broken" after his father's death

A man who started mountain hiking with a men's bereavement support group after his father died has told how conquering some the world's highest peaks helped him find a way to cope with grief.

Aaron Chadwick's dad died after years of ill health when his son was in his mid 20s.

"That floored me. For a long time I just felt weak and broken," Mr Chadwick, of Timperley, Greater Manchester, said.

“Every lad grows up seeing their dad as a sort of superhero."

Mr Chadwick, now aged in his thirties, said he cherishes happy childhood memories but as he got older he was troubled to see his father decline after developing a drink problem.

“When you're 13, 14, and you notice that your dad drinks a lot and he's always in the pub and empty cans everywhere, you think maybe that's a bit of a problem, but you don't understand," he said.

“It wasn't until I got a bit older that I realised that its active addiction and it's destroying health, both physical and mental, and all the sorts of things that come with that."

Mr Chadwick said he witnessed his father's health deteriorate over time

As his father's health deteriorated so too did their family's life and he became unable to work and Mr Chadwick said household debt started to pile up.

Yet somehow he said he managed to keep his own life on track, did well at school and graduated from a top university.

But when his father died he started to struggle.

"Unfortunately I turned to the same kind of methods that my dad had," he said.

"I started drinking heavily and I ended up in a pretty bad spot within six months to a year after my dad passed away.”

The group recently tackled Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain

But Mr Chadwick said he quickly recognised he needed support and that is where his life started to turn around.

“I needed to do something and found this charity called Strongmen," he said.

The charity is dedicated to helping men living with bereavement through outdoor challenges and retreats, as well as linking up with support services including counselling.

"I was terrified to try to access support but the thing that really made me fill out a form and go for it was that it was in Snowdon," he said.

“The thing that I did with my dad was being in the outdoors and climbing mountains. They are my best memories with him.

“I thought, right, I've got to give it a go.”

Mr Chadwick, pictured silhouetted against another peak he has summitted

The move eventually led him among other things to the top of Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, and a feeling of finally getting on top of his feelings.

“For a long time I just felt weak and broken to be honest and mountains feel strong," he said.

"Mountains are just amazing things, and to climb one is a big achievement, whether that's Snowdon or Kilimanjaro.

"Being part of the charity I don't feel alone anymore. I’m part of a community of people."