But surgery worked for Gerwyn and he made a remarkable recovery.
Although the treatment dealt with the physical pain, the effect on his mental health was still there.
In 2022, dark thoughts came back to haunt him and he initially kept his feelings hidden.
“I felt really low and lonely,” he added.
“I was lucky to have friends about that I could talk to and that helped. I hadn’t talked to anyone about it before then. I opened up.”
It was while having a few drinks with former Navy colleagues that he decided to talk about his feelings, which he said transformed his life.
Since then, he has been able to focus on healthy living, exercise and outdoor life.
He has completed the London Marathon as well as hikes in countries such as Morocco.
But the biggest change is closer to home, by doing “something difficult” every morning, in particular ice baths on his patio.
He says it requires routine and self-discipline and leaves him ready to “face the day and to face life”.