THE best friend of a 21-year-old who tragically passed away is channelling his grief by taking on a year-long martial arts challenge. 

Oliver Ellis, from Leigh, was heartbroken when his best friend Harley Scott, from Southend, passed away in 2021. 

Following the tragic loss of his best friend and his own battle with substance abuse, he has made the decision to undergo a year-long Muay Thai training camp in Thailand. 

He is hoping to broadcast the challenge on social media to raise awareness about addiction and mental health. 

Heartbreaking: Oliver hopes the challenge can raise awareness around mental health and addiction.Heartbreaking: Oliver hopes the challenge can raise awareness around mental health and addiction. (Image: Oliver Ellis)

Oliver has already landed in the country and will be staying at Wech Pinyo - a fight camp in Ko Samui where he will begin his challenge on July 17.

He said: “I will never forget when I found out that he had passed away. I was at work and I called his mum and she told me. It was just so unbelievable.

“I’ve been at a low point for the last couple of years. 

“We both struggled with mental health and that’s what made us closer. He was my brother.

Locked inIntense: Oliver says he might have to fight to earn money later in the challenege. (Image: Oliver Ellis)

“I am out of that now, but I think it’s really important to raise awareness around mental health and addiction.”

Following the death of his friend, Oliver turned to drugs and alcohol to help cope with his grief, but it had a severe impact on his own mental health and he spiralled into a pit of depression. 

Now, after turning a corner in his life, he is hoping to inspire others by training every single day alongside professionals. 

In the last week, Oliver has already trained three times at the camp, but will be ramping up the intensity once the challenge begins.

Oliver added: “Harley and I both loved MMA and Muay Thai. I just want to keep him living through me, and I hope I can do that with this insane challenge.

“I was a bit apprehensive at first to be honest and I am still a bit nervous. I’ve decided to upload a day-in-the-life video every day for the next year.

“It’s going to be an experience to say the least. I may even have to start fighting to earn some money down the line. 

“I am going to struggle and it will be a learning curve, but, hopefully, it builds me as a person.”