Support floods in for boxing hero Bruno

BOXING hero Frank Bruno was being treated at a psychiatric hospital in Ilford, England, yesterday and was deluged with support and sympathy from well-wishers and fans.

The former heavyweight world champion is in a mental health unit where he was escorted by police on Monday night after an apparent breakdown.

Support from the world of sport and beyond followed the news that one of Britain's best loved sports personalities is battling with ill health.

But charities who look after people with mental health problems said they were appalled at the way the boxer has been treated.

Last night police officers assisted in removing the father of three from his home near Brentwood, Essex, under the terms of mental health laws, according to sources. He was transferred into the care of a local mental health NHS trust at Goodmayes Hospital, Ilford although there has been no confirmation from North East London Mental Health Trust.

Essex Police said: "We have been assisting ambulance crews to remove a patient from an address near Brentwood."

A source added: "The patient is Frank Bruno. It is my understanding that he has been sectioned."

The 41-year-old has gone through a painful and costly divorce from his former wife Laura and it has been widely reported that he is battling against depression and is said to have previously received treatment at the Priory clinic in Chelmsford, Essex.

Leading mental health charity SANE yesterday condemned a number of newspapers over their reporting of Bruno's apparent breakdown.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the charity, said: "It is both an insult to Mr Bruno and damaging to the many thousands of people who endure mental illness to label him as 'bonkers' or 'a nutter' and having to be 'put in a mental home'.

"One in 100 people suffer serious mental breakdown in their lives, are treated in hospital as for any other illness, and the majority return home within weeks.

"Such ignorant reporting does both the media and the public a huge disservice. We call on the newspapers involved to apologise to Mr Bruno and to all those who experience the stigma such attitudes inflame."

Veteran boxing commentator Reg Gutteridge, told GMTV News: "He has these sort of phases and you think he is sort of acting a little bit because he is good at that, he makes a joke he was everybody's friend.

"I had heard he was suffering a bit from depression but I don't listen to rumours. I would like to hear from him or people around him."

Kevin Lueshing, a friend of Bruno, who organises personal appearances for him, said: "He needs a bit of a rest, he just needs a bit of time to get himself back in order."

Boxing promoter Frank Warren told BBC Radio Five Live: "I think this is very sad but hopefully the start of something good for Frank. It was something he needs to address and hopefully he can get the help he needs, to get peace of mind and to get better."

The promoter said he had told Bruno to get some help, but claimed the words met with a frosty reaction.

Former boxer Barry McGuigan, a founder of the British Boxers Association, told GMTV News he thought successful boxers should get counselling when their careers end.

He said: "I thoroughly believe boxers need counselling when their careers are over, not all of them but quite a few of them need help to fit back into society again."

McGuigan said the end of Bruno's marriage and the death of his boxing friend and mentor George Francis had led to the problem. He added: "I think it all sort of gathered pace and finally the poor guy has just cracked. He's a very sensitive creature, he's a lovely big bloke.

"He has obviously had problems with self-esteem all his life and boxing was something that helped to channel his aggression and focus and when that all went, that was the beginning of the end for him."

In a radio interview in early August, Bruno launched an attack on the people he believed were trying to portray him in the same light as Mike Tyson.

He said then: "I've had a lot of people in my house, a lot of mugs and a lot of creeps, but I've had a lot of good people and I'll stick with the good people I know."