George Gilbey’s mom is very saddened after losing her son and husband within just three years of each other.
Earlier this week, former Gogglebox star Gilbey died in a ‘freak’ workplace accident in Essex after falling 80 feet through a skylight, with a man since arrested in connection with his death.
Gilbey first appeared on the Channel 4 programme in September 2013 with his mom Linda McGarry and stepdad Pete McGarry, before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother the following year, where he finished in fourth place.
The family returned to Gogglebox in 2016, before Gilbey left two years later while his mom and stepdad continued without him until 2020.
However, the following year McGarry died aged 71 from bowel cancer, dying just days after he was told he had months to live.
Now, following the sudden death of her son too, Linda is reportedly ‘in bits’ over the devastating loss.
‘This will hit his family very hard, especially Linda. First, she lost Pete, now her son as well. She is incredibly emotional,’ one of Gilbey’s close friends told The Sun.
Another told the publication Gilbey was a ‘good guy with a big heart who loved his family’.
‘He was a bit of a party guy, but he was good entertainment for everyone who knew him.
‘Nobody deserves this to happen so young – 40 is no age and to die at work is horrific.’
Soon after her husband’s death in 2021, Linda said that ‘Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years’.
‘I said to him, “We’ve not only been 25 years, it’s been day and night with each other”. He was my life.’
She added that her late husband and son had been very close and ‘loved each other’, with Gilbey left ‘cut up’ by his stepfather’s death.
Last year he shared a montage of photos and videos of his stepfather on social media, captioning the post: ‘I want him here this year.’
Linda and Pete met when she was running a pub in Witham, Essex and they went on to run their own pub in Braintree.
Before they joined the Gogglebox line up, the couple fostered more than 100 children.
Gilbey’s death was confirmed by his sister who wrote on social media: ‘Rest in eternal paradise brother. Far too young but god only takes the best.’
Sharing a statement soon after, a Channel 4 spokesperson said their ‘thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George’s family and friends at this very sad time’.
Gogglebox is streaming on Channel 4.
