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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Daniel Bird

A Place in the Sun star devastated as dad tragically dies and shares his 'final days'

Channel 4's Jean Johnasson has shared a touching tribute to her late dad, John several weeks after he passed away.

The star best known for appearing on A Place In The Sun shared her late dad's final weeks as she revealed she wasn't sure whether she would want to share the personal news.

Port Glasgown-born Jean, 41, opened up about her favourite memories with her dad as she recalled the "honour" she felt to reflect on his life.

"My dad died earlier this month. I wasn't sure whether to write about it but I decided I had to - for two reasons," she penned.

Jean Johansson has paid tribute to her late dad, John Anderson (Collect)

Sharing how her dad passed, Jean explained: "He passed on February 9 after a back fracture led to numerous infections, the last of which he wasn't strong enough to fight."

Writing for her Sunday Mail column, the television star continued: "To honour the extraordinary life my dad lived and to express my heartfelt thanks to those who cared for him in his final days.

"Many times I've read the phrase 'they died surrounded by family' and my dad truly was."

The star went on to say: "He was bombarded with love at the end of his life, with my siblings and I taking turns in holding his hand for three days as he slipped away from us."

Jean stated that her late dad was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death (Collect)
The TV star initially explained she wasn't sure whether she would share the news (PA)

Jean later praised the staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital who offered her father the "highest level of care and respect" during his final weeks.

"They comforted us at our most vulnerable and terrifying time. I will never forget their kindness and understanding," she added before continuing: "And then the brilliant carers when he got home who visited him and gave him daily encouragement and helped raise a smile."

Jean explained that the process of organising the funeral for her late Fife-born dad was "tiring and emotionally exhausting" but it was the distraction she "desperately needed".

The presenter later thanked her dad, acknowledging that she got her love of adventure and "passion for travel" from the "freckled-faced working-class Scot".

Paying tribute to John, she said he had encouraged her to break down barriers throughout the course of her life and never been held back due to the strength she had inherited from her "amazing" parents.

Jean explained that her mum was a "devoted wife" right until the end of John life, having met originally in Kampala, the capital of Uganda where he had been living.

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