Love Island’s Dr Alex George reveals his brother Llyr has died following mental health battle
Love Island’s Dr Alex George reveals his brother Llyr has died following mental health battle as devastated star says ‘family is hurting so bad’
- Dr Alex George took to Instagram today to post the news, alongside a picture
- The former Love Island star said: ‘I can’t believe I am actually writing this post. I have lost my beautiful little brother to mental health’
- Llyr had been accepted to medical school and was due to follow in his big brother’s footsteps next month
- Alex found fame on Love Island 2018 but returned to his job as an A&E doctor
- He has spent 2020 working around the clock battling COVID-19 on the frontline
- Earlier this month, his relationship with girlfriend Amelia Bath came to an end after being recently reunited following lockdown
- ***If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org***
By Laura Fox and Roxy Simons and Jack Wright For Mailonline
Published: 11:54 EDT, 24 July 2020 | Updated: 14:15 EDT, 24 July 2020
Love Island star Dr Alex George has today revealed his younger brother Llyr has died after losing a battle with his mental health.
Dr Alex, 30, took to Instagram this afternoon to share the tragic news with fans in an emotional tribute as he shared a photo with his brother.
In a heartbreaking statement, he said: ‘I can’t believe I am actually writing this post. I have lost my beautiful little brother to mental health. I love you so much Llyr.
‘The kindest and most caring soul. I was so proud of you starting medical school next month, you would have been the most incredible doctor.
‘We are hurting so bad. No words can explain. As a family we are devastated. We love you and miss you so much. Please rest in peace x Our boy.’
It is believed that Dr Alex’s brother would have been 19 at the time of his death. MailOnline have contacted his representatives for comment.
Shocking: Love Island’s Dr Alex George, 30, revealed on Friday that his brother Llyr had died following mental health battle as devastated star says ‘family is hurting so bad’
Moving: In his emotional post that his brother had ‘kindest and most caring soul. I was so proud of you starting medical school next month, you would have been the most incredible doctor’
In 2018, Dr Alex competed on ITV’s Love Island, the popular reality dating series which has seen former contestants Sophie Gradon, 32, and Mike Thalassitis, 26, as well as host Caroline Flack, 40, kill themselves after appearing on the show.
Many of Alex’s Love Island co-stars rushed to pay tribute to his late brother in the comments of his post, with Rosie Williams writing: ‘Oh no Alex! This is so awful.
‘I’m so so sorry from the bottom of my heart. Sending you all the love in the world. Thinking of you and your family through this terrible time.’
Charlie Brake penned: ‘So, so sorry mate. Here if you need anything. Devastating,’ Frankie Foster wrote: ‘Sending my love to you and family mate.’
Samira Mighty wrote: ‘Stay strong,’ and Wes Nelson added: ‘So sorry to hear this Alex! Stay strong I love you mate!’
Josh Denzel also commented: ‘Brooo here if you need me.’
Emotional: It is believed that Dr Alex’s brother would have been 19 at the time of his death, which came after he’d been accepted to medical school
Sympathies: Many of Alex’s Love Island co-stars rushed to pay tribute to his late brother in the comments of his post
Tragic: Llyr had been accepted to medical school and was due to follow in his big brother’s footsteps next month (pictured with Alex and their parents Jane and Anthony in 2018)
Dr Alex is currently working on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic at the University Hospital Lewisham in south-east London.
Originally from Carmarthen, Wales, he studied medicine at the University of Exeter before he set his heart on finding romance on Love Island.
He struggled to find his dream girl in the villa, though he did enjoy a brief fling with Alexandra Cane and started dating Amelia Bath in December 2018.
Dr Alex admitted finding his recent split with Amelia ‘really tough’ after being forced to spend lockdown apart while he worked on the frontline.
The reality star said ‘The last few days have been really tough but I am so grateful for the love and support I have received, it means the world to me.
‘Life happens. Being able to pick yourself up and move forward with positivity and an appreciation for life is what matters.’
Dr Alex said in a statement announcing his split from Amelia: ‘Guys just want to let you know, Amelia and I have decided to go our separate ways.
‘As you know, we’ve been apart for most of lockdown which has been hard on us both and we both agree this is for the best.
‘We will remain good friends and I have nothing but respect for Amelia. Thank you for the love and support always.’
Amelia shared a similar statement to her own social media, as she thanked fans for their messages of support. The former flames had reunited briefly, after spending 102 days apart during lockdown.
Challenging: Just two weeks ago, Dr Alex admitted he was finding it ‘really tough’ in an emotional post after splitting from girlfriend Amelia Bath
Working hard: Dr Alex made the decision at the start of lockdown to isolate himself from the actress, 24, and his family as he battled coronavirus on the frontline
Heroic: Alex found fame on Love Island 2018 but has returned to his job as an A&E doctor since, working on the NHS frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dr Alex made the decision at the start of lockdown to isolate himself from the actress, 24, and his family as he battled coronavirus on the NHS frontline.
Last month, the Welshman admitted he was struggling living apart from Amelia, and confessed he was ‘tired’ following his ‘busy shift’, and just ‘wants to go home and chat’ to the dancer, who he credited for helping him ‘relax’.
Leaving the south London hospital in the early hours, he shared: ‘My shift is now finished and I am just heading home. It’s been again a busy shift – I know I keep saying this but it is the truth. I am feeling alright, I am tired.
‘One of the challenges is that I am away from my girlfriend, I made the decision that I didn’t want to risk giving it to her or her family. So I am up in London staying on my own – isolating, and she is staying elsewhere so I don’t give it to her.’
Unlike many reality stars, Alex opted to return to his job as an NHS doctor, writing on Instagram in November 2018: ‘Love Island was the experience of a lifetime, but ever since I left the villa I’ve genuinely missed working for the NHS.
‘That’s why this week, I’m going back to A&E. I trained for years for the opportunity to help people, and I can’t wait to get back to doing what I love.’
On Instagram, he informed his 1.3million followers: ‘I’ll be using my platform to raise awareness around health issues among young people.
‘Hopefully I’ll be able to give you a bit of insight into what it’s like on the front lines of the NHS. I hope you all continue this incredible journey with me. Here we go!’
Alex has since used his platform to raise awareness on various health issues, and in particular mental health following the deaths of several Love Island stars.
In June 2018, Love Island 2016 star Sophie Gradon took her own life two years after appearing on the show, with Mike Thalassitis – who appeared on the show in 2017 – also found dead after committing suicide in March 2019.
***If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org***
