Emotional Mark Wright fights back tears as he pays tribute to late uncle after his death from Covid
MARK Wright fought back tears on the radio as he paid tribute to his late uncle after his death from Covid. Eddie Wright, who was also the father of Mark’s cousin and fellow TOWIE star Elliott Wright, died at the beginning of March. “It’s been so so hard, I mean personally I’m sat here now, one uncle less and it […]
MARK Wright fought back tears on the radio as he paid tribute to his late uncle after his death from Covid.
Eddie Wright, who was also the father of Mark’s cousin and fellow TOWIE star Elliott Wright, died at the beginning of March.
“It’s been so so hard, I mean personally I’m sat here now, one uncle less and it pains me so much to say it, and I’ve got a lump in my throat right now, but we’re going to go through that quickly, and know that it’s been so tough for all of us,” Mark said on his Heart Evening Show last night as he marked the National Day of Reflection.
“If you haven’t lost a loved one, maybe financially, maybe just mentally, not knowing which way to turn, none of us would have ever been able to predict or imagine what’s gone on in this last year.
“So don’t feel bad if you’ve done something wrong, or you’ve dealt with it in the wrong way, or you’ve felt a little bit down, or you’ve let yourself down, because nobody, I reiterate, would have ever predicted this, but here we are.
“A year on and 26 million people have been vaccinated. The news that we needed to be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel is with us.
“Miraculously, nobody would have imagined a vaccine would have been here this quick, so instead of looking at things that may have been the wrong decision, and having the opinion on something negative like we should have done this better, they should have done that better, I’m not.
“I’m going to sit here and think how amazing it is how far we’ve come. One of the leading countries when it comes to being vaccinated.
“I’ve had moments with my family, yes I’ve lost someone very special to me, but I’ve had moments with my family that I’ll never be able to replace.”
Eddie lost his battle with Covid-19 in March after eight weeks of fighting off the deadly virus.
“You’d have to be God to find a better man than my uncle. Put simply, you won’t,” Mark wrote on Elliott’s tribute post at the time.
“I love you uncle Eddie, I’m never going to forget you. Broken to pieces.”
Eddie’s son Elliott paid tribute to his dad on his social account with a heartbreaking message.
He wrote: “It is with heart wrenching regret, that I have to post this post, my father Edward George Wright passed away peacefully with his family by his side on the 02.03.2021 after bravely fighting Covid for 8 weeks…
“For those who knew my father, you know what a great man he was, always smiling, always humble, always happy, despite the fact in his later years he bravely fought prostrate cancer, he never moaned and done his best to put a brave smile on..
“His love for his family is what he will be remembered for to all of us, the ultimate family man, wanting to spend every woken minute with his 10 grandkids and children was his only daily thought pattern and request, was that to be with them, the ultimate family man.
“For those who don’t know me well, the impact this has had on me, what can I say, I’m simply devastated!”
Celebrity pals flooded Elliott’s post with support with Mark’s wife Michelle Keegan posting: “Such a special man.”
Elliott’s wife Sadie Stuart said she felt “shattered” and added: “May you rest in perfect peace in heaven and be reunited with all your loved ones. May god look after you always and forever… until we meet again.”
Former Towie cast member James Argent said: “I’m absolutely heartbroken, love you Elliott.”
In January, Mark opened up about his family’s Covid nightmare.
Earlier in the month, Mark revealed how his father Mark Snr, mother Carol and two uncles had all contracted the virus in what he described as “the scariest week of my life” over New Year.
Speaking on his Heart Radio evening show, the footballer said: “I want my life back. I want my family to be well again. I don’t want my family to have to worry anymore. I don’t want you to worry anymore.
“If you want to get your life back, the only way this will happen is if we obey by the government rules.
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“Now last time when this happened, last year’s lockdown, I saw such a difference. Everybody was sticking to the rules so much better than it feels this time and it’s coming back to bite us, harder, faster and tougher.
“My other uncle, his brother, is in hospital right now, receiving oxygen, and their other brother, my uncle Eddie who I love dearly is currently in a coma in the ICU.”
At the time of the interview, Eddie was in a “critical” condition fighting the disease while another uncle was on oxygen.