The owner of a gym says he's devastated to see his business destroyed by a fire has lost 'every penny' he ever had. CrossFit River Mersey has been ripped apart by a blaze in an industrial area after a fire in a warehouse next door.
Kev Husle, owner of the workout space, admits he is 'devastated' to have lost his livelihood and claims he has put his 'heart and soul' in to running the fitness centre in the community. The gym has been forced to close due to the extent of the damage to the building, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The toll of the blaze amounts to thousands of pounds in damage of equipment and the building itself, with Kev crying 'Every penny I've ever had is in that gym'.
The distraught owner said: "On Monday morning we turned up to do our Bank Holiday crossfit class, and when we got to the gym there was a fire brigade there and a cordon up. The fire had been going since the early hours. When we turned up, we were told by the police that we wouldn't be allowed in, the fire was still going and we had to make members aware there wouldn't be a class.
"We didn't really have any information about what was going on. There wasn't much communication. We were just hoping and praying everything would be OK."
Staff were able to go in on Tuesday and try to salvage some smoke-damaged equipment but the building has officially been deemed structurally unsound and cannot reopen.
The owner added: "I've put my whole heart and soul into the place. Every penny I've ever had is in that gym. It's my livelihood, it's my dream come true.
"It's more than a gym to me, it's my life. Everything I've got is that place and it's just heartbreaking to be told this news, and to see the unit as it is now compared to how it was just a few days ago.
"I don't really know how to describe it. It's gut-wrenching to be told the devastating news our home of 10 years is no longer going to be our home."
Expensive rowing machines and bikes were lost in the blaze but Kev is defiant that the CrossFit facility will open again in another location. He said: "The best thing about the gym and why it's lasted so long is because of the amazing community we've got, and it's overwhelming to see the support from everyone at the gym.
"The gym means a lot to me, but it's unbelievable to see how much it means to our members as well.
"The plan at the moment is to secure a temporary home where we can run classes and keep everyone together. Then we have to look for a new permanent home so we can take croffit to another level and come back bigger and better than ever."
A fundraiser has been set up by member Lisa Rawlings to help get the gym back on its feet. She said: "As a crossfit community, we would love to repay the kindness that Kev provides to each and every one of us and let him know how much himself and his gym means to us all.
"I am trying to help raise as much funds as possible to help Kev find a new home for CrossFit River Mersey and all the costs involved with this."
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