A DAD who weighed more than 19 stone, drank all night and lived off fast food has told of how he turned his life around and lost nine stone in a year – so that he could be there for his children.

Back in 2016, dad-of-three Paul Hankin, from Billinge, was caring for his disabled daughter Madison and wife Emma, who had breast cancer.

Ex-soldier Paul, a Northern Ireland veteran, started to rely on drinking, particularly “super strength cider, and fast food".

Emma’s condition improved but the couple went on to separate. Paul’s heavy drinking and fast food diet spiralled out of control as he tried to “numb the pain”.

Tragically, Emma’s health deteriorated and she died. Paul realised his daughters needed him and so he admitted himself in Whiston Hospital, setting himself the mammoth challenge of turning his life around to be there for his children.

By this time, the weight of 5ft 9ft ins tall and was above 19 stone.

Paul, 40, said: “With the stress I started to drink heavily, my wife Emma got better but then we separated and that caused more stress so I abused drink and food and then she died.

“On top of this my best friend died and I just used this as an excuse to drink more super strength cider every day. Another very close friend died. I carried both of them at there funerals it tore me to shreds... so had more drink and ate more terrible food.

“I ate kebabs, burgers, chippy, pizzas, McDonalds everyday.

“By this point I was a full blown alcoholic with daughters to care for who just lost their mum.”

Paul admits his mental health had deteriorated and mental scars of the 1998 Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people injured and injured many more, still haunted him.

He told the Star: “I had to put Madison in residential care as I wasn’t coping and I was depressed with PTSD from my time serving in Northern Ireland where I was one of the first at the scene of the Omagh bombing.

“I was sleeping and hungover till school pick up time then would drink again from the moment they went to bed.

“Enough was enough, so in November 2017 I admitted myself in Whiston Hospital for a month where I got told I had liver disease and if I drank again I’d be very ill and possibly dead.

“I completely changed my life, I changed my addiction from food and drink to fitness and nutrition, a friend offered me personal training sessions and in a year I had lost nine stone.”

The dad says the weight loss has been a mental transformation as well as a physical one.

He added: “I’m now a happier person, a better dad and a healthier person who will get to see his children grow up.

“I hit rock bottom, but I want to share my story to show there is light at the end of that dark dark tunnel.

“If you are struggling with anything in your life right now reach out and talk about it.”