Paul O’Grady’s husband mentioned the TV star had “the most ordinary day” earlier than his sudden demise one yr in the past. O’Grady, who rose to fame as alter-ego Lily Savage earlier than internet hosting a string of fashionable TV programmes, died at his home on March 28 final yr on the age of 67.
His husband Andre Portasio mentioned he was marking the primary anniversary with a solo journey to New Zealand, saying he didn’t wish to be “anywhere near my kitchen where I found him, and be reminded of what happened”.
Mr Portasio advised the Daily Mirror: “He was on fantastic kind after which we settled down in the lounge and switched on the telly to make amends for Kent ITV News. He all the time insisted on watching the presenter Sangeeta (Bhabra) – he cherished her and would by no means permit me to place the BBC on. It was all about ITV.
“He left to get some tea, and I heard this loud bang.”
Mr Portasio mentioned he discovered O’Grady “lying on the floor” with “a cut on his forehead”.
“I called the ambulance and they said the best chance to keep him alive was to do CPR,” the previous ballet dancer mentioned. “I don’t know the way lengthy it took for the ambulance to reach, however by the tip I used to be exhausted.
“At one point, they were like ‘yes, he’s breathing’. I thought the nightmare was gone but it was very short-lived, and very shortly afterwards they pronounced him dead.”
While ambulance crews have been trying to resuscitate O’Grady, his canine Arfur – “one of his favourites” – had escaped and “nuzzled his face as he always did on Paul’s shoulder as if to say wake up”.
The TV star shared a particular bond with the Queen over their love of dogs, assembly many instances and dealing intently in help of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Since his demise, Mr Portasio mentioned Camilla had despatched two “super sweet” letters which he has but to answer however “maybe on the anniversary of his death I will finally write to her”.
Other letters have come from O’Grady’s “valentine”, British novelist Dame Jilly Cooper, because the pair would “always write to each other”.
Mr Portasio and O’Grady first met in 2006 earlier than marrying in an intimate London ceremony in 2017.
