EastEnders’ Dean Gaffney has said he will be “forever haunted” after finding his beloved mother Marion dead last year following a sudden heart attack.
The 46-year-old actor, who played Robbie Jackson in the soap, took to Instagram to mark 12 months since his passing, paying tribute and saying the tragic discovery was “the worst thing” that has ever happened to him.
Dean explained that he was picking his mother up from her home for their usual Sunday lunch when he found her unconscious.
Alongside a photo of Marion, the actor shared a lengthy post and explained how the loss made him realise how fragile life can be.
Written: ‘A year ago, the worst thing happened to me. While losing a parent is the most inevitable thing in life, when it happens, wow!’
EastEnders star Dean Gaffney, 46, has said he will be “forever haunted” after finding his beloved mother Marion dead last year following a sudden heart attack.
The actor took to Instagram to mark 12 months since her passing, paying tribute and saying the tragic discovery was “the worst thing” that has ever happened to him.
Dean explained how he went to collect his mother from her home for their usual Sunday lunch when he found her unconscious.
“Nothing prepared me for going to pick up my mother for a routine Sunday barbecue and finding her dead. What I saw will remain in my private life, but will haunt me forever. Sudden heart attacks are common. One day you can be here and the next you can be gone, it’s that simple.”
“I’m not one to share my grief on social media. However, I just wanted to say that it’s been a tough year for me and I may have done things in an unusual way. Grief hits in many ways.”
‘Mom, the legacy you left behind is what gets me out of bed every day. You touched people’s hearts and were selfless until the very end.
Before adding: “Today we will toast to you. I love you and miss you today, tomorrow and always.”
Celebrity friends, including fellow soap stars, took to the comments section to send Dean their best wishes and words of comfort.
Her on-screen sister, Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, wrote: “I love you so much.”
While Tamzin Outhwaite, Charlie Books, Danny Dyer and Jake Wood all posted red heart emojis in sympathy.
Terri Dwyer commented: ‘I’m so sorry for your loss Dean. It’s very sad.’
Alongside a photo of Marion, he shared a lengthy post and explained how the loss had made him realise how fragile life could be.
Written: “A year ago, the worst thing happened to me. While losing a parent is the most inevitable thing in life, when it happens, wow!”
Celebrity friends, including fellow soap stars, took to the comments section to send Dean their best wishes and words of comfort.
Gemma Bissex said: ‘Oh Dean, sending you so much love my friend.’
While Corrie’s Andy Whyment wrote: “Sending love mate.”
And Emmerdale’s Danny Miller added: “Sending all my love to you, mate. Love you, bro.”
Darren Day commented: ‘Sending you love, mate’
Last year, Dean took to Instagram to break the news after finding Marion “asleep.”
Alongside a photo of himself and his mother, he wrote: ‘I’m simply heartbroken to share that my beautiful and selfless mother Marian has sadly passed away.
“I was, am and always will be a mama’s boy so this news completely floored me. I spoke to her every day and in a way I’m glad I was the one who found her asleep.
Dean continued: ‘I will cherish all the wonderful memories we shared and while I understand that the circle of life means everyone will feel this pain at some point in their lives, life can be very cruel at times.
Knowing that I will never be able to see or speak to her physically again is greater than any pain I have ever experienced in my life.
‘We all tell our parents and loved ones that we love them flippantly at the end of a phone call, but please tell them that you really love them… Put the phone away when you are with them, as the only criticism my mother ever made of me was that I used the phone when I was with her. Life really does change from one minute to the next.
She added: ‘I really love you mum, you not only have a special place in my heart, you are my heart.
“For all of you who knew her, I don’t need to remind you who my mother was as a person. For those of you who don’t know her, she was the most amazing, selfless, loving, and generous soul to ever walk the earth. Mom, I truly love you.