‘I lay next to Dad's body and cuddled him'

Kirk Norcross bravely speaks out about his father Mick Norcross’s devastating death

- TOM BRYANT

Heartbroken Kirk Norcross has revealed the emotional moment he lay next to his father’s body after he took his own life and said, “Thank you for everything you did, Dad… I’ll make you proud.”

The former TOWIE star also admitted he initially went on a five-day cocaine and drink bender, and even planned his own suicide, following 57-year-old Mick’s death – before getting himself straight.

And now Kirk, who has been clean of booze and drugs for 10 months, has just been announced as an ambassador for suicide charity Papyrus, helping “10 to 20 people a day” online who are dealing with depression or thinking of taking their own lives.

Kirk, 34, says, “My dad was my idol, he was my hero. 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. I tried to give him CPR but it was no good.

“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.’

“I cuddled him for a while, ran my fingers through his hair. I remember it was so soft. It was that moment he died that I became a man. I knew I had to try and make him proud.”

Speaking about now becoming an ambassador for Papyrus, he says, “Going through something as awful as that means only one good thing, which is that you have the experience to help others.

“I have 10 to 20 people message me a day saying they feel suicidal or feel depressed. I try my hardest to give them advice without giving them too much in case it tips them over the edge.