Race Across the World's Fin breaks down as he says 'that was horrific'

Wales Online

28-05-2025

Race Across the World's Fin breaks down as he says 'that was horrific'
The young man from Carmarthenshire opened up about his tough childhood with type one diabetes, then explained what doctors found in his head
Fin broke down in tears as he discussed his tough childhood growing up with type one diabetes
(Image: BBC/Studio Lambert )
Fin Gough from Carmarthenshire revealed how doctors found a tumour in his head after he was diagnosed with diabetes at age 11, in the most recent episode of Race Across the World.
After a tough start in their first leg of the race in India, Fin and his girlfriend Sioned Cray were lagging behind in the competition. Some communication errors and overwhelming crowds meant they were over a day behind the other competitors.
‌
The couple were both 18 and 19 when filming the series, and wanted to use the competition as a way of testing their relationship. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
‌
Sioned struggled through their start in India as she found the hustle and bustle of the country quite stressful, but Fin was continuously supportive through the journey. You can read more here.
Sioned said: "He's the most resilient person I know and I don't think he understands like, how much he has has actually gone through."
Fin explained: "There are bits in India which I find hard, but if Sioned finds it hard, I just try and stay positive, and I do definitely think I'm a little bit more resilient."
‌
He continued: "Growing up for me, I realised, life isn't perfect and things happen."
Fin then went on to discuss how he was diagnosed with type one diabetes when he was 11, after his mother found him unresponsive on the sofa. She then took him to the doctors where he found out he had the condition.
He said: "It was a week in intensive care, then it was a week in just children's ward. Quite a lot for 11, I think.
‌
"Being diabetic there's a lot of complications that can come with it, you know, in your eyes, and I think my eyes are already going a little bit, and obviously, only being 18, it's not something you really want to think about, I don't think, but it's something you've got to think about."
He also shared that two years after his diagnosis, they discovered that he had a tumour in his head.
Fin explained: "I had surgery then, in my head, cause they found out what it was, but that was horrific. Being rushed up to a bigger hospital, this is not good. Obviously, you think you're going to die."
‌
The then 18-year-old broke down as he said he was fine now. He continued: "Now, I don't take anything for granted and this race is hard, but I'm just really trying to enjoy it, and so far I am and it's something I'll look back to and think, I'm so proud I did that."
Despite struggling across India, the pair were brought closer together through supporting one another
(Image: BBC/Studio Lambert )
This isn't the first time Fin has opened up about his struggle with diabetes. In fact, since the series has aired he has been raising awareness and has spoken openly on social media about how it impacted him whilst on the show.
Article continues below
When the pair were interviewed by Wales Online, Fin said: "It was definitely a challenge and I knew it was going to be a challenge, but obviously because I don't know what I was going to be doing the next day, and I have a long acting insulin. So, I didn't know if I was going to be active the next day, how much to give of this long acting insulin because then I could just drop next day."
He continued: "It was a challenge that I definitely didn't think I would have been able to do a few years ago, but I'm very very glad I've done it now 100%. It was not easy." You can read more here.