Kirk Norcross shares last ever photo of his dad Mick and son Harry before his father’s suicide

Kirk Norcross has shared the final photo he took of his son Harry and father Mick, before his dad’s death.

The former TOWIE star, 34, heartbreakingly discovered his dad’s body after Mick died by suicide on January 21, 2021 aged 57. 

He took to his Instagram on Tuesday to post the picture in tribute to Mick, and to spread awareness and encourage men to speak out if they’re struggling.

Touching: Kirk Norcross has shared the final photo he took of his son Harry and father Mick, before his dad’s death

Tribute: He took to his Instagram on Tuesday to post the picture in tribute to Mick, and to spread awareness and encourage men to speak out if they’re struggling

Kirk wrote: ‘This was the last ever picture I took of my dad and Harry it was three days before we lost my dad I don’t know why but this picture speaks to me so much.

‘As if my dad was already gone when we took this photo and this is how he will forever watch over his grandson! 

‘Lads please don’t feel that you are alone and do not be embarrassed to say that you are feeling down speak out!’    

Kirk is father to four-year-old son Harry and daughter Violett, five. 

Tragic: The former TOWIE star, 34, heartbreakingly discovered his dad’s body after Mick died by suicide on January 21, 2021 aged 57

Helping others: Talking through his problems helped Kirk and he is now determined to help others who are feeling suicidal so that they do not suffer the same fate as his father

Talking through his problems helped Kirk and he is now determined to help others who are feeling suicidal so that they do not suffer the same fate as his father.  

Kirk is an ambassador for suicide charity Papyrus and speaks to people everyday who are suffering like his dad was, estimating he helps ’10 to 20′ a day. 

Kirk has been suffering from PTSD since finding his father’s body, but admitted: ‘In some ways I’m pleased it was me who found him but it will be etched in my mind for the rest of my life.

‘When I realised he’d passed, I lay next to his body, kissed him on the head and said: “thank you for everything you did dad and sorry for all I have done. I promise I’ll do my best.” It was that moment he died I became a man. I knew I had to try and make him proud.’   

Heartbreaking: Kirk is father to four-year-old son Harry (pictured) and daughter Violett, five, and planned on recording them a bedtime story before his suicide

The honest chat comes after Kirk broke down in tears in his first TV interview since his dad’s passing in January, admitting on Loose Women that he still hasn’t come to terms with the loss and he’s battled Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after attempting to revive him.

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Mick’s death on Friday, Kirk was a guest on Loose Women to support their Stand By Your Man campaign. 

He explained that due to Mick’s diabetes, he was classed as high-risk during the Covid pandemic, and was forced to shield for most of lockdown, which took a huge toll on his mental health.

 Inspiring: Kirk is an ambassador for suicide charity Papyrus and speaks to people everyday who are suffering like his dad was, estimating he helps ’10 to 20′ a day

Kirk explained: ‘It has been the quickest year ever and the slowest year ever.’

‘It’s so hard to explain. I’ve got a bit of a mental block. I can’t remember my dad being here, but I can like a dream.’ 

‘That’s who my dad was – he was a host. He wanted to make everyone smile around him. Lockdown has really affected people who excel to be around people and make people smile.

‘We locked him down hard. He was diabetic. If you’re on your own, it’s the worst place to be in. You’ve got to tell people.’

Asked why he thinks that Mick – who was a regular cast member on TOWIE – didn’t tell anyone about his struggles, Kirk said: ‘He is old school. 

‘He was a docker, he worked in the docks in the 60s and 70s and I believe that era in men, I don’t know if [they think] it’s a weakness. It’s not, you know. If my mate comes and says, ”I’m struggling”, do you know how strong I think that person is?’

‘I live next to my father. That morning, he was coming in and doing what he normally does. He gave me his next business strategy. That afternoon, he killed himself.’

Emotional: It comes after Kirk broke down in tears in his first TV interview since his dad’s passing, admitting on Loose Women that he still hasn’t come to terms with the loss

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Kirk then detailed the devastating moment he found his father’s body, breaking down in tears as he recalled his attempts to revive him.

He told the panel: ‘I was indoors, having my lunch and I got a call from my dad’s partner saying, ”I can’t find your dad.” And I don’t know why, even though I saw him that morning, I knew what had happened.

‘We knew he was in the house, he’d locked himself in the house and I smashed through the door. He hanged himself and I found him… I gave him CPR, I tried my best. I knew he was gone though, I knew the minute I saw him.’ 

‘It was surreal. It was like my life ended but I had so much to do at the same time. Once I knew it was done, I laid with my father and told him it was time to rest.’

He added that after battling his own mental health struggles, he wants to encourage men to speak out and get help if they’re suffering. 

‘I tried to commit suicide many years ago, I didn’t think I had a purpose then,’ Kirk told the panel.

‘I felt I was, but now I’ve got to take a positive out of what I’ve seen happen and the carnage it’s caused and knowing that my dad had to do it, but no one has to do that.

‘If you’ve ended a relationship, you can get another one, if you’ve lost all your money, you can get more money, if you’ve lost your job, you can get another job.’

Starring role: The ex Sugar Hut owner and reality star, who rose to fame as the man behind the nightclub on the hit ITV2 series, was discovered at his home in Essex after taking his own life

‘I didn’t feel like I had a purpose. I’ve got to take a positive from what I’ve seen happen – the carnage that it’s caused… no one has to do that.

‘Everyone that’s watching this you have survived 100% of your worst days. Why can’t you survive more?’ Kirk said.

‘I have huge respect for my dad. He was my best friend and my dad. He still is. I still conduct myself daily talking to my dad.’

‘It all turned negative. I used to say ”dad this ain’t you, snap out of it”. ‘It’s been hard. I genuinely believe the day my dad died, I turned into a man.’ 

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.

Mick Norcross’ TOWIE moments

MARCH 2011: Mick makes his TOWIE entrance, when Kirk attempts to set Gemma Collins up with his dad. After Gemma voiced her desire to find a ‘Danny Dyer-Tony Soprano’ style older man, Kirk insisted Mick would be ‘perfect’. Despite his best efforts, the businessman seemed more enticed by fellow newcomer Chloe Sims. 

APRIL 2011: Despite his attentions continuing to point to Chloe, Gemma continued in her quest for Mick as she famously left an apple pie on his doorstep however he does not realise it is a gift from the boutique owner. 

Gemma continued in her quest for Mick as she famously left an apple pie on his doorstep

MAY 2011: In one of the show’s most iconic scenes, Gemma is left heartbroken when she believes Mick is approaching her with a bottle of champagne at Mark Wright’s pool party however he is in fact heading toward Lauren Goodger’s sister Nicola. He later said of the scene: ‘I had no idea that Gemma was so upset. I think someone may have told her I was going to come over to her rather than Nicola. But I never meant to hurt her. I hate the thought of upsetting anyone.’ 

SEPTEMBER 2011: Mick sparks up a romance with Maria Fowler – an enemy to Kirk – however the following month he ends the relationship over rumours flying around Essex about their relationship. 

In one of the show’s most iconic scenes, Gemma is left heartbroken when she believes Mick is approaching her with a bottle of champagne

OCTOBER 2011: Mick confesses to Kirk that he feels lonely and would like some company ‘Maybe there’s bits of my life where I haven’t been there for you so it’s hard for me to see where I’m going wrong…

‘I wasn’t there enough for you growing up but I want you to know I’m here for you now. I want to do the things we didn’t do and still can do. I’m quite a hard person and it’s difficult for me to show my emotions and that’s not me making an excuses and it doesn’t mean I don’t love you and I don’t want you around me and I just put this hard exterior up sometimes…

‘Any time you get upset let’s not end up having a shouting match over it. Talk to me. With women, that’s where I push buttons. Unfortunately in what I do, I am surrounded by women from 20 years of age to 35 years of age.’ When Kirk voiced concerns over women taking advantage of Mick, he went on: ‘Really Kirk it’s not your decision, with me you might think I’m having a great time and that but every night I come to this house on my own, I live on my own, it’s empty, it’s nothing.’ 

APRIL 2012: Mick is left in shock when a blaze breaks out at his Essex mansion after which he was treated for smoke inhalation while Kirk suffered minor cuts after attempting to put out the fire that broke out an upstairs rooms around 2.30pm. He spoke of the fire on the show and showed Mario Falcone the damage on-screen. 

MAY 2012: Mick invites a number of the TOWIE boys around for a poker night to christen his new man cave since his home renovation 

MARCH 2013: Mick announced his departure from the show after five series and banned filming in his club after becoming displeased with the reputation of fighting and fury among castmembers within the luxury establishment. He said: ‘My club is an upmarket venue where people come to drink champagne and feel spoiled. All these rows they keep filming don’t show the club in a good light and I’m worried it’s putting people off coming, which is the last thing I want.’

Mick announced his departure from the show after five series and banned filming in his club

 

 

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