Gogglebox star George Gilbey's mum Linda reveals horrendous health scare brought on nine months after he was killed in horrific fall
Gogglebox star George Gilbey's mum Linda McGarry revealed her horrendous health scare which was brought on nine months after his shock death.
Electrician George, 40, died on March 27 this year after falling 80ft through a skylight while working on the roof of a warehouse in Shoeburyness, Essex.
Linda has now revealed that she had a 'full-blown stroke' earlier this year and was rushed to hospital with a friend's help.
The former pub landlady has put the health scare down to the 'shock' of losing her beloved son.
Linda told new! magazine: 'Three months ago I had a full-blown stroke. I'm so lucky that my friends were here and they got me to the hospital. I'd just had a shower and was sitting on the settee with my phone next to me and my friend rang me and I couldn't talk.
Linda, who also suffers from Parkinson's disease, was rushed to A&E to receive treatment which she admitted was 'horrible'.
Gogglebox star George Gilbey's mum Linda McGarry revealed her horrendous health scare which was brought on nine months after his shock death; pictured with George in 2014
Electrician George, 40, died on March 27 this year after falling 80ft through a skylight while working on the roof of a warehouse in Shoeburyness, Essex; pictured 2016
She continued: 'I had tubes down my throat - it was horrible. On the tests they couldn't find where it had come from, but I think it's the shock of George. There's no bigger stress that what I went through.
Thankfully Linda is now doing OK and managing her health with tablets.
She continued: 'I can't change bed or do gardening - I have to do a little job and then sit down - but I'm mad on karaoke! It's very good for Parkinson's and keeps your mind active'.
Linda has had a horrendous time of late. She also lost her husband Pete McGarry in 2021 from bowel cancer - days after being told by medics he might have six months to live.
Linda, Pete and George were much loved by Channel 4 viewers before they left Gogglebox in 2014.
The family was forced to quit when George entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on Channel 5. Producers felt that he would no longer be considered a 'normal' member of the public with his newfound fame.
But they returned to the show two years later, with George later leaving again in 2018 after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Gemma Conway. Linda and Pete remained on the show until 2020.
George was cremated in late April after £7,000 was raised on GoFundMe to cover the unexpected costs of his send-off.
Linda has now revealed that she had a 'full-blown stroke' earlier this year and was rushed to hospital thanks to a friends help; pictured 2016
The former pub landlady has put the health scare down to the 'shock' of losing her son George, 'There's no bigger stress that what I went through'
Thankfully Linda is now doing OK and managing her health with tablets she continued: 'I have to do a little job and then sit down - but I'm mad on karaoke! It's very good for Parkinson's'; pictured with George's daughter Amelie
Linda also lost her husband Pete McGarry in 2021 from bowel cancer - days after being told by medics he might have six months to live
Linda says she has finally decided where she wants to scatter his ashes almost nine months on from the tragedy.
Alongside George's former partner Gemma, she took her son's daughter Amelie, eight, on holiday to Lanzarote earlier this year.
She has now revealed she plans to go back next year with the youngster - and appears to have suggested George's ashes will be scattered in the same place as her husband's.
Linda, who was formerly a pub landlady and a lifelong foster parent to some 140 children, said granddaughter Amelie had made a heartrending Christmas wish as she prepares for her first Christmas without her father.
She recalled: 'She's done her Christmas list and it will break your heart. It says, 'You can forget all of that if you bring my daddy back.''
Despite the efforts of emergency services, George died at the scene after falling to his death at the industrial park in Shoeburyness.
Two men aged 47 and 36 have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and remain under investigation by Essex Police.
An inquest heard he suffered traumatic head and torso injuries after falling through the plastic aperture of the building used by EGL Homecare.
