Alex George recalls heartbreaking moment he learned of brother's death

Love Island star Alex George has said his brother’s death in July has been ‘the toughest time of my life imaginable’.

The Love Island star appeared on Lorraine this morning to talk about the tragedy after his brother Llŷr died following a battle with mental health this year.

‘It’s something the family never expected,’ Alex explained.

‘I was at a restaurant when I found out with my friends. I got a phone call from my dad.

‘[…] The world came down on my shoulders. My little brother Elliott picked me up and we drove back to Wales. We sat in silence for about five hours – and crying, shouting, and just letting out all this anguish. I went into different parts of my mind during that journey.

‘Dark parts, to be honest, I couldn’t believe this had happened.’

Calling Llŷr, who was about to start medical training, a ‘kind little boy’ and a ‘mini me’, Alex continued: ‘Mental health shocks me in my working career and now shocks me in my personal life. You can’t predict these things. Mental health can affect anyone.’

The star continued: ‘I felt tremendous guilt. I’m a doctor, I’m an older brother. I always wanted to protect him and look after him. What could I have done differently? I’m a mental health advocate. So it was anguish, the worst thing.

‘But mental health and physical health are akin. Just like you can have a heart attack and pass away, mental health is the same. That’s why it’s so important we treat it like that and realise it.’

‘That’s why I wanted to say he’s passed away from mental health. I wanted to be open about that. Because there’s nothing to be ashamed of.’

Discussing how to approach mental health, Alex said: ‘It is about raising awareness [and] tangible change: improving funding on the NHS for mental health, education in schools, raising an awareness of all the things we can do to look after ourselves.

‘Covid has really highlighted and put pressure on mental health at the moment.’

Alex appeared on the 2018 series of Love Island.

The star returned to work for the NHS shortly after the show ended.

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV.

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