George Gilbey’s devastated mum has revealed the last thing her son said to her before his tragic death.
The reality TV star, who appeared on the Channel 4 show and Celebrity Big Brother, died at the age of 40 on March 27 following a workplace incident. Last week, the tragic Gogglebox favourite was remembered at an emotional service and committal at a crematorium near his home in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex after the inquest into his death was concluded.
Now George’s heartbroken mum, Linda McGarry, has revealed that her late son phoned her just hours before his tragic fall – and has shared what the final words were that he told her before his shock death. The 74-year-old reality star – who featured on the Channel 4 show alongside George and her husband, Pete McGarry – has fought back tears while talking about her late son.
She explained that George called her the morning of his accident and they had a lighthearted conversations. She said: “He phoned me at 9.30 on the morning and said he was working — and asked me for his ‘breakfast money’. I put £30 in his account so he could get food, and he seemed fine.”
Continuing in her conversation with The Sun, Linda shared the touching final message he told her as their conversation came to an end. She revealed: “He had a drink the night before, and liked a bottle of white wine or two, but was happy that he was working. He ended the phone call by saying, ‘I love you’ like he usually did. I treasure those words.”
The grieving mum added that she is proud to have had George as a son and said having him in her life was a “blast”. Gogglebox fans were shocked last month when news broke that the reality star had died. Police confirmed the incident with a statement reporting: “We received a report of an incident at Campfield Road in Shoebury at around 10am this morning (27 March), during which a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury. The ambulance service including air ambulance were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene. We will continue liaising with partners including the Health and Safety Executive. A cordon remains in place at the scene.”
While his cause of death was confirmed this month in a short inquest hearing in Chelmsford. The inquest was told Geroge fell through a skylight while working on a roof. A post-mortem examination found his injuries were “consistent with a fall from height,” Essex coroner’s court heard. He left behind beloved seven-year-old, Amelie, who he shared with ex-girlfriend Gemma Conway.
His death came three years after Linda was left heartbroken by the death of her husband, Pete. The fellow Gogglebox star passed away in 2021 after being diagnosed with cancer. Despite being told he could have six months to live, Pete died just days after doctors discovered he had bowel cancer.
Linda said in an interview following his death: “Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years. I said to him, ‘We’ve not only been 25 years, it’s been day and night with each other.’ He was my life.” Pete had lost six stone during lockdown and was then told he had cancer. After undergoing an operation to remove the tumour he was told he had half a year to live, but tragically died just a few days later.
Meanwhile, Linda herself is facing a health battle of her own – having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease earlier this year. She revealed at the beginning of April: “I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and George took it worse than me. He was a mummy’s boy.”
In her new interview with The Sun, Linda reflected on the fact that George helped her cope with her Parkinson’s diagnosis. She said: “He would fuss over me, change my bedding and do my shopping. He was always nagging me to remember to take my pills. George was very kind and had a heart of gold.”
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