Paul O’Grady was “nuzzled” by one of his favourite dogs during frantic efforts to save him, his husband has shared.
The beloved TV presenter and comedian passed away at his home in Kent on March 28, 2023 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrhythmia. Exactly a year on, widower Andre Portasio has recalled For the Love of Dogs star Paul’s tragic final moments.
Andre, who married the star in 2017, said he is still getting used to the huge void in his life Paul left behind. The pair were together for 18 years and only now has he opened up for the first time since his death at 67.
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“He always insisted on watching the presenter Sangeeta [Bhabra] – he loved her and would never allow me to put the BBC on,” Andre told the Mirror. “It was all about ITV. He left to get some tea, and I heard this loud bang. But because the house is big and old, I didn’t think of anything at first.”
(Image: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home)
However, he soon noticed two of their dogs had gone into the kitchen and returned. Believing Paul had headed outside to the cottage in the grounds of the house which they were renovating, Andre got up and went to the kitchen himself.
“I walked to the kitchen to start putting some food on, and I started taking things out of the fridge,” he continued. “And all of a sudden, I could see him lying on the floor.” Frozen in shock, Andre said he didn’t know what to do at first, after spotting a cut to Paul’s head.
“I thought he was probably just unconscious,” he explained. “I called the ambulance and they said the best chance to keep him alive was to do CPR.” Andre did just that and by the time paramedics arrived he felt “exhausted”.
Andre says the crew fought for an hour to save him and at one point believed he was breathing, only to pronounce him dead “very shortly afterwards.” Andre then went on to reveal the “saddest part” of the tragic episode.
(Image: ITV)
“As I was trying to resuscitate him, I was trying to keep the dogs out of the room,” he said. “But somehow Paul’s dog Arfur, who is one of his favourites, escaped and he nuzzled his face as he always did on Paul’s shoulder, as if to say ‘wake up’. It was just heartbreaking.”
Paul left a staggering £15.5million in his will, with £125,000 just for his five pet dogs. He also gave a huge £500,000 to the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, which was seen on his popular TV show. In addition to this, he also gave away £775,000 to other charities close to his heart, including £50,000 each to elephant and orangutan charities.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
