SAS: Who Dares Wins viewers in tears at hero Grenfell Tower firefighter battling PTSD

A SAS: Who Dares Wins recruit was praised by viewers after opening up about his PTSD as a result of fighting the Grenfell Tower fire. 

Ricky, aka Recruit #1, was brought into interrogation by Ollie Ollerton and Melvyn Downes, where he opened up about why he wanted to take part in the course. 

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Explaining that he suffers from PTSD, Ricky then explained he was one of the first responders at the devastating Grenfell Tower in 2017. 

The fire, which ripped through the West London tower block, killed 72 people with dozens more injured as the flames burned for more than 60 hours before it was finally extinguished. 

Speaking about the profound effect the event had on his life, Ricky explained he felt guilt at leaving people in the fire, and how he wished he was able to save more. 

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“It’s been a tough three years, I just lost my mind completely, I was suffering from PTSD, I’d start crying and I had no idea why,” he said. 

“There was one particular incident where we tried to rescue someone and we had to turn back, literally outside the guy’s front door, and that guy died and that really haunted me for a long time.

“You always want to rescue everybody, you know? You want everyone to survive. On that night, 72 people didn’t. It’s f***ing heartbreaking, and this course to me was a chance, I guess to start a new chapter in my life.” 

Ollie sympathised with him, and encouraged him to look forward, telling him: “Ultimately, time ain’t stopping for no f***er.”

Getty Images – Getty

Getty Images – Getty

He later told cameras: “I do have some demons, and i’m hoping that during selection I will be able to confront those.

“Firefighters leave incidents but incidents don’t leave firefighters. When things don’t work out the way you want them to, it hurts.”

The emotional moment tugged at the heartstrings of viewers, leaving them in tears as they assured him that he had ‘nothing to prove’ and was a real hero. 

Unfortunately, by the end of the episode, Ricky handed in his armband and forfeited his place in the process, falling on his sword for his other recruits. 

Initiating an endurance test, Ant Middleton announced they would continue to deal with the freezing temperatures, freezing cold water and pull-up drills until someone forfeited. 

Rather than see the others continue to suffer, Ricky gave up his place on the show. 

Ricky was one of a number of participants that quit the series in the first days of the SAS-style training camp, which included an ambush and an abseil off a 110ft oil rig. 

SAS: Who Dares Wins airs Sundays at 9pm on Channel 4.