Ulrika Jonsson has been left “bereft” as she announced the tragic death of a family member.
Swedish star Ulrika, shared the tragic news with her fans as she took to her social media platforms on Friday afternoon (July 12). In a touching tribute, she admitted that the loved one will be sorely missed by everyone in the family.
Uploading to her Instagram story, she admitted that her bulldog Leo had tragically passed away at the age of seven. Coming into her life in 2017, Leo was a core part of her life, but recently underwent treatment for cancer.
READ MORE: Ulrika Jonsson slips into tiny top for bedtime snap as she jokes about wrinkles
READ MORE: Join the Daily Star Soaps WhatsApp for all the latest spoilers and exclusives
Holding back tears, former Gladiators host Ulrika penned in the story: “We had to say goodbye to my beloved Leo today. I’m bereft. Smackerjacks Lover Man 3/5/17 – 12/7/24,” before finishing the statement off with a red heart emoji.
(Image: ulrikajonssonofficial/Instagram)
A keen dog lover, Jonsson has shared numerous photos of Leo throughout his life, and had no shame in telling fans what she first made of him when Leo first came into her life. “Four years ago today, Smackerjacks Lover Man aka Leo came into our lives,” she wrote in June 2021.
“He was all teeth and no trousers, all whinging and all clinging,” she added at the time. “Fearless and apprehensive all rolled up in one wrinkly ball of trouble. Oh how we love you little Leo (he IS a short a**).”
However, things took a turn when a heart-breaking health update on the four-legged friend revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He would later go on to have chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, which is described as a “rare” cancer that attacks bone marrow and blood.
(Image: ulrikajonssonofficial/Instagram)
Former Eurovision host Jonsson admitted that she was worried for her pup’s health, adding that the dog had responded well to chemotherapy. However, due to the nature of the disease in animals, she was told he will “never be cured” – as she wrote in a statement in October 2021.
“You guys know how much I love this boy; you also know the dogs I’ve lost,” she went on to say. “This is the best news in the circumstances and I am quietly thrilled – it’s all that I could have asked for.
“Leo, on the other hand, has taken the news in his stride. I’m working intensely at the moment and it’s safe to say, he’s fuming.”
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The most recent update on Leo’s health came in June 2022, when he was forced to have six teeth removed, though it was not confirmed whether his battle with cancer had come into play. She admitted that the situation seemed “a bit unfortunate on top of his leukaemia, but there you go.”
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
