Kirk Norcross was praised by Loose Women fans after he bravely opened up about his dad's death on today's show.
The former TOWIE star lost his dad Mick to suicide on January 21 2021 - and appeared on the ITV programme in support of its Stand By Your Man mental health awareness campaign.
Kirk found his dad's body and said he had been diagnosed with PTSD in the aftermath of his death.
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He said: "I got diagnosed with PTSD because I’ve had flashbacks of how I found my father.
"It’s like the war films… the flashbacks, I’ll be walking down the road and it’s like ‘Bang’ and it’s in my dreams. I ring my friends and say, ‘I need to talk to you.’"
Denise Welch was one of the panellists on today's show and she suggested that Kirk may not have come to terms with the loss just yet.
He said: "I don’t think I have, I really don’t think I have. I can talk about it so freely and I shouldn’t be able to, but maybe this is how I grieve though.”
Kirk described his dad as his "best friend" and was emotional as he recounted the day of his death.
He said: “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.”
Kirk added: “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 and I smashed through the door. I found him… I gave him CPR, I tried my best. I knew he was gone though, I knew the minute I saw him.”
Kirk said his dad didn't open up about his mental health struggles and urged people to talk so they don't suffer in silence.
He added: "I believe your mind, if you’re on your own, is the worst place to be in. Me, I really can’t stress to people - you’ve got to let people know how you feel. You let people know when you’re happy, why not let them know when you’re sad?
"I don’t want anyone else to go through what my dad had to do and what we had to go through as a family…. Just reach out, it doesn’t make you any less of a man to tell people you’re struggling.”
Loose Women viewers on Twitter praised Kirk for the "brave" interview.
Kerry said: "I watched the interview with Kirk. He was very brave. So sad, and very emotional. He seems like a lovely bloke. Must be so hard for him and his family."
Claire added: "So hard watching Kirk Norcross do his interview, he did so well. Incredibly hard thing to talk about, just heartbreaking"
Lisa commented: "Kirk Norcross broke my heart watching him in so much pain, yet he shared his experience to help save others. He is so inspirational and I'm sure his dad is watching over him with pride. God bless you Kirk."
Tara posted : "Kirk Norcross. Thank you for your strength and advice."
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV and ITV Hub
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