Operation Transformation leader Thomas Hynes tells viewers his devastation after the death of his best friend

ONE of Operation Transformation’s leaders spoke about his grief on tonight’s episode after a close friend passed away suddenly.

Homas Hynes (50) from Co Longford was heartbroken after receiving “terrible news” of the death of his friend Mick.

He said it really made him remember how lucky he was to have survived a heart attack five years earlier.

“I almost came close to death and it didn’t happen to me, thank goodness. And it’s very important for me, even more so now, to get that message out,” he said on the RTÉ One welfare program.

“I’m thinking about his family, his wife and kids, it’s been difficult.”

Thomas said Mick sent him a text last Wednesday and “his wife said on Saturday night that he was looking forward to seeing the show”.

On the day of his friend’s funeral, Thomas took to the streets around Granard, Co Longford, for one of the fitness challenges, where he was supported by more than 200 members of the community.

“To see that level of support, that really got me three or four steps up again,” he said.

“I was strong enough to get through the heart attack. I was strong enough to apply for switch operation. I was strong enough to do all that and I was strong enough to do all that and do it for Mick.”

During his fitness check-up in Stradbally, he told Dr. Eddie Murphy that the loss of his friend only made him more determined to pursue his own health journey.

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This week, he lost 2 inches in his waistline and lost 1 pound of weight.

Meanwhile, team leader Andrea Daly (38) was visited by psychologist Dr. Murphy this week and talked about the loss of her son Dylan (13) in January 2019. The boy was born in 2005. cerebral palsy.

The mother-of-three said she never went to counseling after his death, which she “at times” regrets. She said her father visits his son’s grave in Rathdowney every night and sends her a picture every time.

She has also left his wheelchair in the same place in the kitchen for the past four years.

Andrea, who lives in Portlaoise, Co Laois, made plans with Dr. Murphy to meet a career counselor and bring more joy into her life.

Her weekly weight loss shows she lost 4 pounds in weight and 3 inches from her waistline in two weeks.

Also participating in this year’s series. which airs Wednesdays on RTÉ One at 9:30pm, are leaders Marie Clear (32) of Tipperary, Lorraine Dempsey (42) from Co Wexford and Stephanie Bowden (31) of Dublin.