'He's been through a lot': Race Across the World's Kush comforted by best friend Jo as he details 'horrific struggle' after anxiety attack
Kush has suffered two major tragedies in his lifeRace Across the World‘s Kush will again lean on best friend Jo for support tonight after being hit with a bad anxiety attack.
The lads are one of four teams remaining in this year’s BBC show and will be seen travelling from Zaamin in Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia.
But as they are once again thrown out of their comfort zone, 19-year-old Kush begins to struggle with his mental health.
Jo, also 19, ends up staying awake and chatting to him through the night to keep his pal calm.
The scenes, which show Kush getting tearful, come after last week’s admission about his two tragic family deaths.
Kush revealed how his biological father had died when he was a baby.
Then, when he was 14, his stepfather – who he grew up thinking of as his real dad – died from suicide.
Race Across the World’s Kush struggles with anxiety
In tonight’s episode, Kush and Jo are seen earning some extra money with a walnut farmer.
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The pair are invited to stay at the farmer’s property, but Kush’s anxiety begins to bubble when it’s time for bed.
“I’m feeling a little anxious,” he admits, referencing his surroundings. “It’s properly off the beaten track.”
The following day, the Liverpudlians are put to work in the largest natural walnut grove on earth. As they collect nuts from the ground, Kush says to Jo: “Thanks for staying up with me last night.
“It actually made a big difference. I didn’t know if I’d be able to go to sleep. I just need my head to shut up for a minute. But you know how I get.”
Speaking on his own, Jo admits: “I do think Kush can be glass half empty, which is understandable since he has gone through a lot.
“I understand where that negative state comes from. I do let him rant, get it off his chest and then say, ‘Okay, let’s look at this from a different point of view’.”
Jo goes on to explain how he supports Kush back home when he is finding life tough.
“We link up and go off on walks, on bike rides, to the park to play footie. As long as we’re doing something, I can tell it improves his mood,” he says.
“Kush means a lot to me and I want to show him that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
Meanwhile, Kush also speaks about his mental health to the cameras.
The full-time student admits: “Every day is difficult and everyday is a struggle. You have bad days, good days, off days, but every day is hard.”
Getting tearful, he continues: “I’m trying to learn how to function over high stress. I just really appreciate the fact that Jo is always up for looking after me. I don’t think he understands the difference it makes. He’s my best mate.”
What happened to Kush’s dad?
Last week, Kush revealed the grief he is constantly battling with. Following the death of his biological father when he was one, his mum married a man called Matt. Kush looked to Matt as his ‘real dad’ growing up.
But when he was 14, tragedy hit. Matt took his own life and it shook Kush to the core.
“I remember the day he passed,” he recalled. “It was lockdown and it was a real big shock. He had really poor mental health and took his own life.
“You never forget that shock factor. I still think about him all the time.”
Kush then got every emotional, as he added: “I wish, I really wish I could show him who I am now. Because when you’re 14, I didn’t know who I was and I was still a child.
“I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger and I feel like if I could show him what I have learned….”
Jo was on the scene when Matt died and has comforted and supported Kush ever since.
We all need a friend like Jo, don’t we?
