BBC Breakfast host comforts grieving father as he carries out son's 'dying wish'

BBC Breakfast turned emotional as hosts Rachel Burden and Roger Johnson spoke with heartbroken father and former Sky News journalist Mike McCarthy, who was determined to honour his son's "dying wish".

Mike appeared on the BBC programme on Sunday (August 31) in a moving bid to raise mental health awareness and suicide prevention, after the devastating loss of his son Ross, who tragically ended his life at 31. In his final farewell message, Ross pleaded that his family campaign for "better support."

Speaking about his son on television became too much for Mike at one point, as he wiped away tears during the touching interview. Refusing to let his son down, Mike is pouring all his energy into fulfilling that last request.

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He sat on the red sofa clutching a Baton of Hope, which he explained represented a "journey of hope-of moving bravely away from the darkness of despair and, with encouragement and support," reports the Express.

Mike is leading an incredible event in memory of his son and others who have died by suicide. The Baton of Hope will travel across the UK, stopping at 20 different locations.

The charity effort kicks off tomorrow in Blackpool, with BBC Breakfast following its journey until it finishes in London on 10 October. Mike shared with Rachel and Roger the community he had built with others who were also grieving deeply.

He said: "I say to people whom I have met, who have lost people to suicide, 'I wish I had never met you, but I am glad that we did'. Because in another world we wouldn't have met, and I'd go back to that world in the blink of an eye, but I've met some incredible people."

He also mentioned three other fathers who had tragically lost their children to suicide, and together they launched the campaign 3 Dads Walking, with the trio aiming to raise awareness "one step at a time".

United by grief but sharing the same goal to prevent suicide, especially among young people, the trio will be reuniting to share a lap together with the Baton of Hope.

Speaking about their bond, Mike said, "I mean, the 3 Dads, again, advanced the cause so effectively. Doing something practical was a Baton of Hope, and we wanted to do something practical."

He added, "Awareness is as good as the practical change that follows." Mike became incredibly emotional during one poignant moment, when he addressed the letter his son Ross "had left for him" and how "rewarding it felt to have been having a positive effect" in the workplace now.

Mike said: "We've introduced what we'd call a workplace pledge, in which we provide suicide prevention in the workplace for companies large and small, and that has really taken off, and it's rewarding to see that the letter that Ross left for me, that there was something that I could do to answer what was effectively his dying wish."

Getting visibly emotional, Rachel stepped in to comfort Mike: "Ross would be incredibly proud of what you're doing, and thank you for sharing his story with us; we appreciate it."

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One, from 6am.

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans - Here to listen.