ACTOR, television star and writer Denise Welch has said she is “heartbroken” following the death of her father in a County Durham hospital.

The Loose Women panellist announced on Instagram that Vin Welch died surrounded by his family, at the University Hospital of North Durham.

She had previously revealed her father suffered complications following surgery on a gallbladder.

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On Wednesday she wrote: “The words I’ve dreaded saying all of my life. Last night at 11pm, we lost our dad, the force that was Vin Welch.

“After making a miraculous recovery recently from major surgeries, pneumonia plus his existing pulmonary fibrosis was more than even he could take.

“He left us surrounded by his family who could not have loved anyone more.”

Welch, 63, said she “can’t quite function as I’m so grief stricken, but I know he meant so much to so many people, even those who’d never met him”.

“I’ve never seen anyone fight to stay longer at a party than dad and last night was no different,” she wrote.

“He loved life and lived it to the full like no other.”

She added that the nurses at the Durham hospital who cared for her father “will forever be in our hearts as they gave dad the most peaceful passing anyone could wish for”.

“We will NEVER forget you,” she added.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Denise Welch (@denise_welch)

In response to the support friends and fans have shown to Ms Welch and her family, she write on Instagram: "This last 18 months have been so divisive and the world has become a cruel sometimes terrifying place.

"At times I thought I’d lost my faith in humanity.

"But today, with my heart in pieces, seeing the outpouring of love for dad and my family my faith is restored.
"Thank you so very much for your wonderful messages that we have all read together and it’s given us so much comfort."

 

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