Gladiators star recalls 'special' moments with newborn son before heartbreaking death

Gladiators star Zack George has bravely opened up about the "special" moments he shared with his newborn son before he sadly passed away.

Baby Leo was born prematurely earlier this year and spent 13 courageous days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Leicester Hospital before tragically passing away.

During those 13 days, the George family witnessed firsthand the extraordinary care and compassion of the NICU staff.

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In response, Zack and his wife Samantha have founded Leo & Friends, a baby loss awareness charity aimed at providing vital support to other families enduring similar heartache, while also recognising and equipping the NICU teams who work tirelessly to care for premature and critically ill babies.

Appearing on Saturday's (August 16) episode of BBC Breakfast, the couple spoke to hosts Charlie Stayt and Luxmy Gopal about the "really special" moments they shared with Leo before he passed away.

Zack explained: "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 later revealed that he's taking on the 13 Days Fighting' Burpee Challenge in memory of little Leo which will consist of completing a mile of burpees every day for 13 consecutive days, from August 18 until 30 this year, across an array of different locations across the UK.

The challenge is proudly supported by Currys, who will be joining Zack on his journey to raise awareness and funds for the Leicester Hospital NICU.

In addition to their support, Currys will be donating up to £5,000 worth of tech equipment for family and staff rooms within the unit, helping create a more comfortable and supportive environment for both parents and healthcare workers.

The funds raised through the 13-day challenge will go towards equipment, support services, and improvements to the NICU at Leicester Hospital - the hospital that gave Leo his 13 precious days and cared for him around the clock.

For more information about the challenge, how to get involved or to donate, please visit https://www.leoandfriends.co.uk/

If you have been affected by this story contact The Lullaby Trust on 0808 802 6868 or email support@lullabytrust.org 

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am