Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild: 'How my new life on a narrowboat helped me overcome loss of my wife'

But following his loss, he decided to turn his life on a new path – or, perhaps to be more accurate, a new canal.

Mr Thompson, 64, now lives a nomadic existence in nature on a narrowboat, traversing waterways across Northern England.

Far from being lonely, Mr Thompson, who has two children and two grandchildren, has found a new sense of purpose and community as he documents his life on his boat, named Inspired by Nature.

And this week he is set to feature on 5’s new series of Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild.

Living aboard a 17-metre narrowboat powered largely by solar energy, Mr Thompson moves every two weeks learning to manage everything himself, from engine maintenance to mooring, water, heating and power.

In the episode, Mr Fogle joins him as they prepare the boat and set off further down the canal in Cheshire, on the edge of the Peak District.

Mr Thompson’s life changed in 2013, when his wife Sue died of cancer aged 50, just 11 months after the couple moved to Tenerife to pursue a new life.

He said: “I went back to work, and I just couldn't handle it. I was basically homeless. I didn't have anywhere to live. Had no money, just a suitcase, kayak and a bicycle, that was it.”

He chose to return to the UK, where he found himself sleeping on friends’ sofas. “You shouldn’t be in that position at my age,” he said. “I ended up trying to take my own life.

“And when I woke up in hospital, I knew it was a time to switch on, and I thought ‘you can’t do that again.’”

A friend suggested that Mr Thompson begin fundraising for the Canal and River Trust, and it was while taking photographs of the waterways that he says he realised the answer to his housing problem was “right in front of me.”

He said: “I got chatting to the boaters, and got to know them. They told me it’s a wonderful way of life and a cheaper way of living.”

Mr Thompson decided to go for it, and now has found happiness living on the waterways.

He shares his journeys on his Instagram page, inspiredbynature5, where he shares how his life in nature has helped him cope with grief.

“I held it in for many years. I didn't really grieve at the beginning, and I didn't get counselling… but it's just my sanctuary when I go out in nature,” he said. “I live in the moment. I don’t have a watch.

“Don’t get me wrong, a lot of people might think ‘oh, he keeps himself to himself.’ But I have lots of friends within the boating community, which is great. We all know each other better than you would if you lived on the same street.”

Episode four of Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild, featuring Dave Thompson will air on Thursday at 9pm on 5.

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