Pete Wicks has revealed he saved his mother Tracy’s life when he was just 12 after finding her in the kitchen following a suicide attempt.
The TOWIE star, 36, who made her Strictly debut on Saturday night, opened up about the traumatic early experience in her new memoir Never Enough: My words unfiltered.
Referring to his mother as “the strongest woman I know, she’s my hero,” Pete explained that he went down to the kitchen and found Tracy sitting at the table covered in blood while holding a knife in one hand.
Pete recalled how terrified he was and immediately called his grandmother Doreen for help before also dialling 999.
As she waited for an ambulance, the star tried to stem the flow of blood and keep her mother alive, recalling: “I went into crisis mode.”
Strictly’s Pete Wicks has revealed he saved his mother Tracy’s life when she was just 12 after a traumatic suicide attempt.
The TOWIE star, 36, who made her Strictly debut on Saturday night, opened up about the traumatic early experience in her new memoir Never Enough: My words unfiltered (pictured with fellow Strictly alum Jowita Przystal)
He wrote: ‘I saw her sitting at the table, which was covered in blood. I saw the blood dripping first. She was holding a knife in her other hand.
“I immediately ran towards her to take the knife out of her hand. Before that, she seemed almost possessed, it was as if my mother had left and someone (or something) had taken over her body.”
“But when I got close to her, it was like she had woken up. She looked at me with tear-filled eyes. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” she kept repeating over and over.
“I told her I was fine while I panicked trying to figure out what to do. I called Nan. I could barely find the words to describe what had happened. I think I basically said, ‘Mom… knife… blood.'”
Pete’s grandmother, who passed away in June 2022, told him to hang up and call an ambulance, as the book continues.‘I followed his instructions, called the ambulance and then got to work trying to take care of Mom, who at the time was sitting on the floor and bleeding profusely.
‘I grabbed some towels to try and stop the bleeding. I poured the wine down the sink. It’s hard to say exactly how I felt at the time, because I think it was just pure shock. I didn’t cry, I just went into crisis mode.’
Pete wrote his new book to destigmatise talking openly about mental health and recalled how the after-effects of trauma had a huge effect on his life.
He explained that he became incredibly protective of Tracy, who raised him as a single mother. after separating from Pete’s father when he was 11 years old.
He wrote: “I didn’t say it, but I thought it was my fault. I had been with Mum before it happened. I had agreed to go upstairs. I stayed upstairs even though I could hear her crying. If it was anyone’s fault, it was mine.
Pete explained that he went down to the kitchen and found Tracy sitting at the table covered in blood and holding a knife in one hand. Pete recalled that he was terrified and immediately called his grandmother Doreen for help before also dialling 999.
Recalling how the after-effects of the trauma had a huge effect on his life, he explained that he became incredibly protective of Tracy (Pete pictured as a child).
“Looking back, I know my responsibility was probably overwhelming at the time. I was the child and I needed to be looked after” (pictured with friends Vicky Pattison, Ferne McCan and mothers Caroll and Gill)
“Looking back, I know my responsibility was probably overwhelming at the time. I was the child and I needed to be taken care of.
‘Instead, I had to take care of my parents and suppress all the fear, panic, loneliness and guilt that was beginning to build up inside me.’
Fortunately, Tracy quickly recovered and apologized to her son, describing him as a ‘moment of madness’ that would never happen again.
Making his Strictly debut at the launch on Saturday, Pete joked that when he told his mum he was taking part in the BBC show, she laughed in his face.
Pete Wicks takes to the dance floor with Jowita Przystał.
The couple surprised this week when they were seen getting very cozy with Jowita at the National Television Awards on Wednesday night.
Pete’s appearance on the BBC show came as a surprise to viewers given his close friendship with Zara McDermott, who was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima in last year’s series.
However, Pete insisted that hadn’t stopped Zara from supporting him, as he told MailOnline: “Zara loves the show and has been very supportive so she’ll probably be my number one fan.”
Fortunately, Tracy quickly recovered and apologized to her son, describing it as a “crazy moment” that would never happen again.
Making his Strictly debut at the launch on Saturday, Pete joked that when he told his mum he was taking part in the BBC show, she laughed in his face.
Pete, delighted with his partner Jowita, enthused: “Oh, 100%! The little pocket rocket? I’ve got it in the bag already, I’ve changed my mind – I’m going to win it.”
When it was suggested that Zara could teach him some moves, he joked: “It’s my partner who’s going to teach me everything, so I’m excited to get started.”
And Pete was certainly looking forward to the full Strictly experience, as he said of the glittering outfits: “I’m here for a penny, I’m here for a pound. I’ll never be here again, will I?”
As for whether it’s worth teaming up with the lovely Jowita, Pete enthused: “Yeah, sure! The little pocket rocket? I’ve got it in my pocket now, I’ve changed my mind – I’m going to win it.”
However, while he was confident about his partner, the TV star seemed a little taken aback by their upcoming dance after Jowita revealed they will be doing a Paso Doble to Breathe by The Prodigy.
With a bewildered look on his face, the long-haired lothario asked, ‘What is a Paso Doble?’
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