2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Gladiators star hold back tears as he details 'special' final moments with baby son
Gladiators star hold back tears as he details 'special' final moments with baby son
Gladiators star Zack George has spoken out about the "really special" moments he shared with his newborn son Leo before he tragically passed away earlier this year
Zack George has courageously spoken out about the precious moments he experienced with his newborn son before he heartbreakingly died
Gladiators star Zack George has courageously spoken out about the precious moments he experienced with his newborn son before he heartbreakingly died.
Little Leo arrived prematurely earlier this year and fought bravely for 13 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Leicester Hospital before sadly losing his battle.
Throughout those 13 days, the George family saw first-hand the remarkable care and kindness shown by the NICU staff.
As a result, Zack and his wife Samantha have established Leo and Friends, a baby loss awareness charity designed to offer crucial support to other families facing similar devastation, whilst also acknowledging and supporting the NICU teams who work relentlessly to care for premature and seriously ill babies.
Speaking on Saturday's (August 16) episode of BBC Breakfast, the pair talked to presenters Charlie Stayt and Luxmy Gopal about the "really special" moments they experienced with Leo before he died, reports the Mirror.
The Gladiators star revealed that he's taking on the 13 Days Fighting' Burpee Challenge in memory of little Leo
(Image: BBC)
Article continues below
Zack revealed: "I didn't actually hold him for the first days. A really special moment is that when he was in the incubator and his oxygen levels dipped or his blood pressure dipped, if we were sitting next to him and we touched him and was speaking with him, we would instantly see his stats improve.
"I think that was a really special moment, he knew who his mum and dad were and he knew you were there."
Zack has announced that he will undertake the '13 Days Fighting' Burpee Challenge in memory of little Leo. The challenge, which involves completing a mile of burpees every day for 13 consecutive days from 18 to 30 August this year, will take place at various locations across the UK.
Zack and his wife Samantha George appeared on BBC Breakfast on Saturday
(Image: BBC)
The initiative is proudly backed by Currys, who will accompany Zack on his journey to raise awareness and funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Leicester Hospital.
In addition to their support, Currys will donate up to £5,000 worth of tech equipment for family and staff rooms within the unit, aiming to create a more comfortable and supportive environment for both parents and healthcare workers.
The money raised through the 13-day challenge will be used for equipment, support services, and improvements to the NICU at Leicester Hospital - the hospital that provided Leo with his 13 precious days of life and round-the-clock care.
For further information about the challenge, how to participate or to make a donation, please visit
f you have been affected by this story contact The Lullaby Trust on 0808 802 6868 or email support@
Article continues below
BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am
