rt Zac
Allroundnice
guy:Zac’stime
onTreasure
Islandwonhim
a newfanbase.
“Iwastheretobe
a goodperson,”
hesays.TEXT: ELLEN MACKENZIE. ALL BLACK PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES.straightawayandit hithome.
“Itmadeit thatbit
harderbecauseKarland
I hadgottencloseoverthe
timeinFijiandwe’ve
stayedclosesincewe’ve
gottenhometoo.
“We’reprettymuch
in contactonthe
daily.We’resimilar
people.Even
thoughhe’san
actorandI’m
a rugbyplayer,
we’rethe
samedeep
down.” #Despitebeingthefirsttoleave
CelebrityTreasureIslandbychoice,
KarlBurnetthasbeendubbeda hero
afteropeningupaboutmentalhealth
ontheseries.
TheShortlandStreeticon,who
playedNickHarrisononthehitKiwi
soap,bravelysteppedawayfromthe
reality show following a sleepless first
night on the island that left him with
“some pretty dark thoughts”.
The actor explains, “I’ve suffered
depression and anxiety for a very long
time and been good for the last few
years, but this has taken me completely
out of my comfort zone.”hingsdidn’tgetofftoa goodstart
forKarl,43,whenhisteammates
forgotabouthiminthefirstchallenge
andhewaslefttiedtoa pole.Karlsays,
“IstartedthinkingI’mnotreallyfitting
in.Thesearepeoplewho’vewongold
medalsattheOlympics d d hi
andthat,andI’mjusta
He added that his
six-month-old son
Charlie was “pretty
much the only thing
that sort of kept me
from going for a
very long swim in
the ocean”.KARL CALLSITQUITS FOR LOVE
sanddonethissss
n actor.”Since leaving
the island,
Karl’s backin
his happyplace
with son
Charlieand
new mateZac.Zac’s
exciting
All Black
career was
cut short.AB PEOPLE
CK!
G et help
If you or someone you love is
struggling with their mental
health, phone Lifeline on 0800
543 354 or visit lifeline.org.nz.
Woman’s Day 27