Giants’ Drew Robinson Finds Fresh Hope After Pandemic Suicide Attempt

Giants’ Drew Robinson Finds Fresh Hope After Pandemic Suicide Attempt

By Movieguide® Staff

Editor’s note: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know struggles with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

“April 16, around 8 p.m., I attempted suicide and shot myself in the head. A day later, April 17, around 4 p.m., I dialed 911 myself in an attempt to have my life saved. Later that night, not only was my life saved, but it was reborn and restarted,” Drew Robinson tells his team.

Robinson, an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, is now sharing his testimony of hope in the ESPN+ documentary, ALIVE: THE DREW ROBINSON STORY.

Robinson attempted suicide in April 2020, toward the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic that forced people into isolation. Without baseball, Robinson’s depression and suicidal thoughts worsened.

He wanted his life to end, but God had other plans.

By all accounts, Robinson should have died.

“I’m meant to be alive, Chad. I’m meant to be alive. I’m meant to be alive,” he told his brother over and over again.

“I shot myself, but I killed my ego,” Robinson said.

There is much to rejoice in about Robinson’s story: The celebration of life, the desire to serve other people, the recognition that suicide is not the answer to depression.

Though Robinson doesn’t directly cite faith in his recovery, we know it’s God who is the Giver of life. God designed Robinson with plans and a purpose.

Romans 8:28 tells us that God works together all things for the good of those who love Him. Psalm 34:18 says that God is near to the brokenhearted.

Our prayer is that Robinson recognizes the supernatural miracle in his life, and that other people who experience depression and suicidal thoughts understand how deeply loved they are.

“How can I go through this and not find a way to try to help other people or impact other people’s lives?” Robinson says. “Just have this happen and just move on with my life the way I was before? There’s no way. This was a huge sign. A huge, painful sign that I’m supposed to help people get through something that they don’t think is winnable.”