Graziano Di Prima has revealed how late friend and former Strictly Come Dancing co-star Robin Windsor begged him for help after being left in agonising pain from a back injury.
The Latin and ballroom dancer was part of the BBC dance competition’s professional line-up from 2009 until 2013 where he was paired with stars including Alison Hammond, Patsy Kensit and Lisa Riley.
His time on the show came to an end however after he suffered a “slipped disc” at an after-show party in Blackpool, with MailOnline reporting that he fell heavily on a marble floor while “trying some lifts,” and required an operation resulting in constant pain.
He was found dead in a London hotel room last week aged 44. No cause of death has yet been given.Now, fellow BBC star Di Prima has given an insight into his friend’s anguish and praised him for his determination to keep doing what he loved.
He told The Express: “He was always the one who would push himself to the limit on a tour.
“One day he came and said to me, 'Please help me, I've got so much pain in my shoulder', and he was shaking from the pain.
“We did rehearsals for two weeks nonstop. I could see the pain, but he would never stop.
“He showed people that if you really love dancing, you can do it, no matter how much pain you're in. He was so strong.”
Windsor previously opened up on his exit from Strictly and admitted he was left heart broken as it wasn’t his choice.
Appearing on the My Time Capsule podcast in January 2022, he said: “Leaving Strictly wasn't my choice. I had a horrible back operation and they decided that they didn't want to ask me back the next year.
“It was probably for health and safety reasons, in case something happened, but I was physically fit. One of my best friends Trent Whiddon, who replaced me to dance with Pixie Lott, I wanted to watch and support him, but it broke my heart.”
