On Thursday, Gemma Atkinson honoured the 21st anniversary of her father’s death by sharing emotional details of the last time she saw him.
When her father, David, died of a heart attack at the age of 52, the 38-year-old Strictly Come Dancing star was just 17 years old.
Soon-to-be mum-of-two Gemma announced on Instagram at the end of the week that she’d seen David in hospital only a few hours before he died and even had a Mars bar with him.
Gemma, who is expecting her second child with Strictly veteran Gorka Marquez, claimed her ‘world collapsed’ when her mother contacted her hours later to deliver her the devastating news.
Alongside a photo of herself and her dad, Gemma wrote: ‘21 years ago today I sat by your hospital bed sharing a Mars bar & laughing.
‘You were due to come home the following day. I gave you a kiss, said I’d see you tomorrow and left.’
The doting mum added: ‘A few hours later the hospital rang mum to tell her you had passed away. A heart attack in I your sleep. My world shattered then and there. Completely broken.
‘Although my life is pretty amazing now, there’s still that void that you left. There always will be, because I imagined you’d be here forever.
‘To at least meet your grandchildren & one day walk me down the aisle. Having to remember you longer than I had you here is a weird feeling, but I’m always grateful & thankful for the wonderful 17 yrs I had you in my life Dad.’
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Gemma concluded: ‘17 yrs of feeling safe, loved, protected & happy. The best dad in every way. Today we miss you more than most, but we can sit and laugh talking now about you, and I know you’re regularly ear wigging and watching us all too.
‘I feel it often and it’s always a comfort.’
Gemma and Gorka, 32, revealed three months ago that they were expecting their second child together, a boy.
They already have a three-year-old daughter named Mia and announced their impending birth on social media.
Gemma wrote at the beginning of the year: ‘Impossible to hide my belly any longer. I’ve officially “popped”. Our baby boy will be joining our family later this year.’