Paul O’GradyAndre Portasio, who was married to Paul O’Grady, remembered the devastating moment he discovered the star dead after an ordinary day, and the heartbreaking response of their dog, Arfur.
It’s been one year since the sudden death of the Lily Savage star at 67, which led to an outpouring of grief and emotional tributes. while living in Kent with his long-term partner Portasio and their beloved dogs, O’Grady was said to be in great spirits
He lived with long-term partner Portasio and their beloved dogs in Kent, and said O’Grady was in excellent condition shortly before he passed away.
Portasio plans to spend O’Grady’s first anniversary in New Zealand, to be as far away as possible from their shared home, especially the kitchen where he found O’Grady.
The couple were watching the news when O’Grady went to the kitchen to make tea, 'and I heard this loud bang’.
Portasio hurried in and found him on the floor with a head wound, and immediately called an ambulance who told him ‘the best chance to keep him alive was to do CPR’.
He worked to save his husband, becoming ‘exhausted’ by the time the ambulance arrived, and there was a glimmer of hope when paramedics reported he was breathing — ‘but very shortly afterwards they pronounced him dead’.
Portasio sadly recalled how O’Grady’s beloved dog Arfur ‘pressed his face against him as he always did on Paul’s shoulder, as if trying to wake him up’.
O’Grady’s love for dogs was well-documented throughout his life, and even after his passing, he continued to help animals, leaving a substantial amount in his will to the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home.
Having become an ambassador for Battersea in 2012 following the success of ITV’s award-winning For The Love Of Dogs series, after his death the animal charity also established a ‘tribute fund’ in his honor which raised over £480,000.
And it was revealed this year that the star left an astonishing £550,000 to the rescue charity.
Of his £15.5 million will, £775,000 was allocated to causes and organizations that were important to him.
The animal enthusiast left £500,000 to Battersea, along with donations of £50,000 to elephant and orangutan charities.
He also contributed £50,000 to the Salvation Army, who had supported him during his upbringing in Liverpool and where he also volunteered as a teenager.
O’Grady passed away unexpectedly but peacefully and his with the cause of death being revealed as cardiac arrhythmia syndrome (SADS). According to his death certificate obtained by the Daily Express, the syndrome was connected to the Blankey Blank host’s heart disease.
According to his death certificate obtained by the Daily Express, the syndrome was linked to the Blankey Blank host’s heart disease.
