What’s your worst fear? In this episode, through our guest Rod Bridge, Tim is exposed to his one and only fear: Outliving his children.

In February 2013, Rod Bridge lost his only son, Preston. Preston died at the age of 16, after taking a synthetic form of LSD, during his school ball after party. Rod first talks about ‘that day’, and how, through a hunch, he was one of the first to arrive at the incident scene. He describes the shock and disbelief and his final days with Preston in hospital, including the agonising decision to turn off Preston’s life support system. There was overwhelming school and community support throughout the incident, but Rod still had a total feeling of loneliness and emptiness. He explains how he channelled his emotion in the days, weeks and years that have followed.

Last year, Rod Bridge personally spoke to 61,000 school kids through his charity SideEffect. SideEffect is Rod's campaign to educate our youth,  on substance use in order to empower them to make informed decisions. 

Sorrow, grief, anguish, agony, heartbreak, anger, emptiness…. there are no words in the English language that can describe what Rob has been through, and continues to go through every day.

This is a gripping episode of loss, courage, bravery and growth. For parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles …. and for you teenagers, you MUST listen to this episode as it will stimulate discussions that are desperately needed in our homes to keep our youth informed, and ultimately, safe.

SHOW NOTES:

• 60 Minutes Episode: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/rod-bridge-went-to-china-to-learn-the-truth-about-the-synthetic-drug-trade/news-story/b04a4413cf8335ffa538631d32020952