Tyler West reveals he developed severe OCD and considered suicide after struggling with the trauma of witnessing a murder aged 14

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Tyler West has shared that he struggled with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and contemplated suicide after seeing a murder when he was only 14 years old.

The 30-year-old presenter and television personality, known for his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, recently shared a disturbing experience he witnessed in an interview with Pete Wicks on the Man Made podcast.

Tyler shared that he grew up with his mother and older brother, and that they supported him strongly after his father wasn’t around.

One night, while at home, the KISS radio presenter saw a murder happen outside his window on a troubled estate in south London. The experience deeply traumatized him, leading to fear, loneliness, and serious mental health problems.

He had previously described witnessing an attack where he saw two men cut another man’s neck with a twelve-inch knife, causing the victim to fall to the ground.

Tyler described the scene with strong emotion, saying he saw men carrying a body and attempting to put it into a bag. He explained it was a terrible sight and, despite calling the police over ten minutes prior, they still hadn’t arrived.

After the two men went back inside, my mum and I went to help. I remember standing over the injured man while my mum tried to stop the bleeding with towels.

I was completely overwhelmed and in shock. I felt numb, like I couldn’t even process what was happening, and didn’t even realize I was crying. It was that kind of intense pain where everything feels unreal.

Looking back, that moment was truly life-changing, though I didn’t realize it at the time.

For the next two years, Tyler remained confined to his bedroom, believing something terrible was about to occur.

He described how he became housebound, refusing to leave his bedroom. He developed severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, which manifested in specific rituals and avoidances. For example, he kept his blinds permanently closed, creating total darkness in his room, and couldn’t use cutlery when eating. Even if he had to go outside, he avoided walking on a particular side of the road.

It sounds silly, but I felt compelled to make my bed every day. I had a strong belief that something terrible would happen if I didn’t, and I was genuinely terrified of dying. This fear extended to avoiding anything potentially upsetting on television, like action movies or fight scenes.

I genuinely believed that if someone had even a small amount to drink around me, I was in immediate danger and feared for my life. This fear caused me to miss school and led to a very difficult time, to the point where I felt I couldn’t cope anymore.

Tyler shared that he hit his lowest point at age 17, finding himself on a bridge near his home.

I used to live near a bridge on the A217, and one day I went for a walk. My phone died, and when I reached the middle of the bridge, I suddenly felt completely lost and confused. I started thinking about desperate things, like whether I should jump. It was a really dark moment, because I was so consumed by my thoughts.

Pete interrupted and asked, “Did you go to the bridge on purpose, or did you just end up there?”

Tyler explained that he hit a really low point and felt lost. He desperately needed help, but his mother kept wanting to discuss his feelings, which he avoided. He withdrew from the world and became isolated, not just in his life, but also in his own thoughts.

The former TV presenter from Lorraine said that around 4:30 AM, a driver saw him and honked, prompting him to head home.

I remember him saying how overwhelmed he felt, just not wanting to deal with everything and wishing he wasn’t there. He was really stuck on something, and honestly, it sounds strange, but he said a car horn actually snapped him out of it. It was a surprisingly simple thing that helped him in that moment.

Tyler, a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, has been in a relationship with EastEnders actress Molly Rainford since 2023.

Last August, Tyler proposed to his partner while they were on a romantic trip to Greece, and they announced their engagement soon after.

If you’re feeling upset by this news, the Samaritans are available to talk. You can reach them by calling 116 123 or visiting their website at www.samaritans.org.

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2026-04-08 20:38