The family of a young man who saved Derryn Hinch’s life are ‘disappointed and disgusted’ the senator has continued drinking – despite being on the brink of death seven years ago.
Heath Gardner died suddenly in 2011, with relatives making the heartbreaking decision to donate his healthy liver – an organ Mr Hinch was in dire need of.
The 74-year-old, a self-confessed former alcoholic, was ‘two weeks from death’ suffering advanced liver cirrhosis when he received the second chance at life.
Derryn Hinch was spotted drinking out a wine glass at the weekend just days before he toppled out of an Uber after two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc on Monday evening
After hearing about his tumble on Monday, Ms Gardner said it felt as though he wasn’t appreciating the gift he’d been given (pictured in the hospital)
But after falling out of an Uber in Melbourne following ‘two glasses of wine’, Heath’s sister Kimberley has decided to open up about the senator’s drinking habits.
‘I’m very disappointed and disgusted in the choice that he’s made to continue to drink alcohol,’ she told A Current Affair.
After hearing about his tumble on Monday, Ms Gardner said it felt as though he wasn’t appreciating the gift he’d been given.
‘He’s been given a piece of my brother and he’s now abusing that completely,’ she said.
Hinch batted away questions about his drinking on Thursday, saying: ‘I am eternally grateful for the transplant, but you have to live your life
And she wasn’t the only member of Heath’s family to unleash on the Australian politician.
‘In the end only Derryn knows how much he is drinking,’ said Lynda Yendall, Heath’s mother.
‘It’s on his conscience if he is doing the wrong thing by his second chance at life.’
Warning: Lynda Yendall – the mother of Derryn Hinch’s liver donor – says ‘it’s on (Derryn’s) conscience if he is doing the wrong thing with his second chance at life’
Heath Gardner – one of Derryn’s listeners – died suddenly in 2011 and Hinch was given the gift of his healthy liver
But after falling out of an Uber in Melbourne following ‘two glasses of wine’, Heath’s sister Kimberley (pictured) has decided to open up about the senator’s drinking habits
The former broadcaster – who drank up to six bottles of wine a day at the lowest point of his addiction – declared he would never drink again after the transplant.
But the politician backflipped on that promise.
His on-again, off-again girlfriend exposed the truth in a series of bitter tweets following a 2016 break-up.
‘Derryn Hinch has been back on booze 12+ months. So much for respecting organ donors gift of life. Fave wine, cheap Gossips. No loyalty,’ she tweeted.
Derryn Hinch’s girlfriend Natasha Chadwick sparked a furore two years ago when she tweeted he ‘has been back on the booze’ (pair pictured together)
Lynda Yendall’s family have had to come to terms with what she calls his ‘drinking dramas’.
Kimberley initially went public two years ago to say she was ‘upset (Hinch was) polluting my brother’s liver’.
Following the 2016 revelation, Heath’s sister Kimberley said ‘it is upsetting to think he may be polluting my brothers liver’ – but said she had ‘all faith in Derryn’ and his choices
Hinch called the family after that remark but Ms Yendall this week said she had not heard from him since.
‘The liver is part of Derryn now and we have no control over what he chooses to do with it.. whether we like it or not,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
Hinch batted away questions about his drinking on Thursday, saying: ‘I am eternally grateful for the transplant, but you have to live your life.
‘Until I’m lying on a slab for the last time, I’m here to live my life the best I can.
‘I’ll have a couple of glasses of wine, a couple times a week – but I still water it down.
‘If my quality of life is improved by having a glass of wine, then I will.’
Heath Gardner died suddenly in 2011, with relatives making the heartbreaking decision to donate his healthy liver – an organ Mr Hinch (pictured) was in dire need of
Broadcaster turned crossbench Senator Hinch (seen prior to press conference this week) was hospitalised after falling from his Uber this week
The crossbench lawmaker said he had only had two glasses of ‘watered down’ Sauvignon Blanc when he fell out of the car on St Kilda Road about 11.30pm.
He was knocked unconscious and a shocked witness had to call an ambulance.
Hinch blamed a ‘dodgy knee’ and tiredness for the tumble and told reporters his doctors had cleared him to have a few drinks.