Kirk Norcross has paid tribute to his late father, Mick, as he celebrates his own son Harry’s fifth birthday.
The 33-year-old former The Only Way Is Essex star was devastated in January last year when he discovered the body of his father, who took his own life at the age of 57.
Kirk has two children of his own – with son Harry, who he shares with ex-girlfriend Danielle Louise Carr, turning five on Wednesday.
Celebrating his son’s latest birthday, Kirk was reflective on his father Mick – who also starred on The Only Way Is Essex and famously was the owner of the iconic Sugar Hut nightclub in Brentwood.
Taking to social media, Kirk shared a video of himself and Mick cooking in a kitchen.
He wrote: “I miss you so much dad!!! You made me the man I am today!
“I will not forget anything you showed me! I love you so much! If only I knew you were hurting I would of done anything to help you!”
Turning his attention to his son, Harry, he added: “The joy that little boy brings to me is unbelievable.
“It's a different kind of love and it makes me realise why my dad worked so hard because I'm doing it for my son, to just give your children the best life you can.”
Kirk had to break down the door to his father’s house last year when Mick’s partner grew concerned they couldn’t contact him – with the former reality star being left heartbroken when he found his father had committed suicide.
Opening up about the ordeal on Loose Women last year, he said: “I can't stress to people - you've got to tell people how you feel. He was old school. He worked in the docks in the 60s and 70s and I believe that era in men, [they think] it’s a weakness.
“I live next to my father, I was with him the night before. That morning, I was having my breakfast, and he did what he usually did, which was take a bit off my plate. And he was fine. He actually gave me his next business strategy and I was like, ‘Brilliant, if that’s what you want to do.’ That afternoon he killed himself.
“I was indoors, having my lunch and I got a call from my dad’s partner saying, ‘I can’t find your dad.’ And I don’t know why, even though I saw him that morning, I knew what had happened.
“We knew he was in the house, he’d locked himself in the house. I knew he was gone though, I knew the minute I saw him.”
Kirk struggled through tears as he described smashing the door of his father’s house and giving him CPR inside.
He said: “It was surreal. It was like my life ended but I had so much to do at the same time. What would my dad have done in that situation? Once I gave him CPR and I knew it was done, I just laid with my father and told him it’s time to rest.”
Mick had suffered financial and business hardship in the months before his tragic death.
Reports have stated he wed £554,503 to nine separate lending agencies – and £22,000 in taxes.
His restaurant and bar, named Willow, had been forced to close in December 2020, with reports stating the business owed four loans to Barclays Bank.
While the businessman had also struggled to sell a number of luxury houses in Bulphan – with the £1.75million properties on the market from November 2019 and still unsold when Mick took his own life.
* Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org
