Oscar Pistorius Is Not Suicidal, Says Family

Olympian's relatives speak out after a friend of Pistorius claimed he was so "broken" after girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's death that he was thinking about killing himself

Oscar Pistorius is certainly distraught over what happened that fateful night with Reeva Steenkamp. But in no way is he considering taking his own life.

The embattled track star's family released a statement Monday vehemently denying an assertion made by his longtime friend that Pistorius is "on the verge of suicide" after being charged with premeditated murder in the fatal shooting of his model girlfriend.

"Oscar, broken as he currently is, believes he has a purpose in life and is working towards that. Media reports to the contrary are untrue," said Oscar's uncle, Arnold Pistorius. "Of course Oscar will never be the same, having to live with the knowledge that he caused the death of the woman he loved, but he is coping as best he can with the support of his loved ones."

The family was responding to an interview the Paralympian's pal, Mike Azzie, gave to South Africa's BBC3 (via the Los Angeles Times) in which he expressed deep concern for Pistorius' mental state in the wake of the tragedy and legal proceedings against him.

"I would say, just speaking to him, that he is a broken man and that I would go as far to say that he would be on the verge of suicide," Azzie told the network. "It really worries me."

He added that the double amputee sprinter known the world over as Blade Runner—who is out on bail while he awaits trial for Steenkamp's Valentine's Day death—can't stop talking about Reeva and asking him and others to pray for her family.

"He has no confidence in his tone of voice and he is just a man that is almost like someone that is walking around in circles and doesn't know where he is going," said Azzie.

While Pistorius' relatives didn't dispute the burden of grief and guilt the runner is shouldering, Arnold noted Pistorius has an excellent support network in his family.

His uncle also confirmed statements Azzie made that Pistorius has been forced to sell off his cherished racehorses to help pay his increasingly massive legal tab, but noted that Oscar will "evaluate the cost situation on a day-to-day basis and make decisions as required."