ITV I'm A Celeb's Barry McGuigan bursts into tears over heartbreaking death of daughter
Barry McGuigan was comforted by his I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! campmates as he recalled the devastating death of his daughter, Danika, who battled cancer
Boxing legend Barry McGuigan showed his emotional side on I'm A Celebrity on Monday night as he opened up about the loss of his daughter.
The 63-year-old sport star and his wife Sandra, who he wed back in 1981, were left devastated in 2019 when their daughter, Danika - who was affectionately called Nika - died at the age of 33 following a battle against cancer. Barry shared the sad news at the time, sharing a photo of himself with his late daughter online.
In a heartbreaking post, he typed: "The most difficult thing I've ever had to do was to say goodbye to my amazing daughter Nika earlier this week. She has been a shining light in our family's lives for the past 33 years.
"Nika was an extremely talented and inspirational young lady who radiated kindness and love. Our hearts are broken and we know that life will never be the same again for us. However, Nika lives on in so many parts of our lives which we are grateful for. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who sent flowers, cards, Mass cards, Instagram messages, Facebook, Twitter, texts and email messages of condolences and support."
During Monday night's I'm A Celeb episode, Barry opened up about his loss in a candid conversation with radio host Dean McCullough. Viewers watched as Dean asks Barry if he goes to church and the sport star replied: “I used to go to church a lot but after my daughter… you know, not so much.” Discussing his loss, the boxer explained: “She had leukaemia, when I was making the boxing with Daniel Day Lewis, three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia, they thought she wasn't going to get better but she fought back and she won it. She had two years of chemo.”
As Barry became emotional and broke down in tears, all the campmates ralled around to console him, with Danny Jones and Tulisa Contostavlos giving him a hug. Barry said: “Thank you, you’re all so lovely, I really appreciate it.”
Speaking of the second bout of cancer, Barry told Loose Women star Jane Moore she had “pains in her tummy but she was making the movie, she put it off and went to the doctor, called us all in. Stage 4 bowel cancer, 5 weeks, 5 weeks she died.” His story touched Coleen Rooney who shared her own story about loss with Dean and Oti Mabuse. Recalling her about the loss of her sister, Rosie McLoughlin , who died in 2013 aged 14, Coleen recalled: “Even when Rosie died, I kept it together for me mum and dad.” She added: “She was 14 when she died, she’d be 26 now. It’s hard to lose a child, I’ve always said that… so we’re lucky to have what we’ve got.”
Viewers were left emotional by the stories, with many in tears themselves. One I'm A Celeb fan wrote on X: "Na this episode has got me on an emotional rollercoaster #ImACeleb." Another added: "Oh my God my heart is breaking for Barry McGuigan." And another typed: "Barry my heart man #ImACeleb #ImACelebrity."
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