Content warning: This article contains discussion around suicide and mental health.
Rhys Bennett comes bounding into the media room at Manchester United‘s Carrington training ground bristling with energy, as you would expect of a 22-year-old professional footballer.
Tall and confident, lean and physically fit – apart from a knee injury he is trying to recover from so he can complete a loan move to a League One club next month – defender Bennett offers a firm handshake and talks of his developing skill as a DJ.
Captain of United’s last FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2022, Bennett has impressed during a loan stint at Fleetwood.
But he is not talking about that today.
Bennett has serious issues to discuss, which stem from a heartbreaking message he posted on social media on 28 October.
“Broken, devastated, just don’t want to believe it’s real,” he said. “I love you in this life and the next.”
The message was to his father, David, who had taken his own life.
Bennett wants to talk about the pain of those left behind, to encourage conversation and plead with those struggling with their mental health to choose a different path to the one his dad took.
David, along with the rest of his family, gave his time to help Rhys and daughter Megan, who works in mental health care.
“He was very hard working,” says Bennett. “You grow up, especially as a son, and look up to your father. You want to be like him.
“He gave me so much along the years, including my resilience and work ethic. The time him, my mum and family invested in me to fulfil my dream is something I’ll be forever grateful for. They were always there for me, no matter what.
“They don’t realise how much they’re appreciated, and how they affect people. You want to have millions more laughs and cries and whatever it might be. I appreciate everything he’s ever done for me.
“As much as it’s a sad situation and the last chapter of his life wasn’t a good one, you’ve still got to celebrate his life and think about the good times.
“If I could have one more conversation with him it would be to say how grateful I am of him as a person, how much I love him and let him know how much I really appreciate him. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”
Bennett’s reason to talk to BBC Sport is clear. He wants to help. He realises it is quite possible he will never know if an interview has helped a specific individual, but that is not the point.
“I want to talk about the importance of telling people how you feel, how special it is to be living, to be breathing, to be able to eat, to sleep. You’ve got to be grateful for what you’ve got,” he says.
“Someone might be feeling a certain way but hopefully this nudges people and they might just check up on a person and ask are they OK.
“Don’t question yourself – just do it. Let the people you’re close to know that you’re there for them.”