I’m A Celeb’s Barry McGuigan reveals the way his grandchildren saved his life after daughter’s tragic death from cancer
BARRY McGuigan has revealed the heartbreaking way his grandchildren saved his life after the death of his daughter.
In 2019 I’m a Celebrity star Barry, 63, tragically lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer when she was just 33.
And Barry – who also shares sons Blain, Jake and Shane with wife Sandra – has told how the family pulled together after the tragedy.
Revealing that Blain, his wife and their three children moved in with them after Danika’s death, Barry insisted having his grandchildren around gave him a reason to push on.
He told the MailOnline: “They have saved us.
“Having grandkids makes you get up in the morning, even if you don’t want to.”
Former boxer Barry confessed that following Danika’s death he suffered low moments but the children forced him to focus on other things.
He added: “They don’t give you a choice.”
Nika was first diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukaemia when she was 11 but beat the disease after two years of treatment.
But the actress’ life was cut short when the disease returned.
Barry previously admitted he doesn’t think the family will “ever come to terms” with losing Danika.
Speaking to Belfast Live back in 2021, Barry said: “I lost my daughter two years ago, and it’s been shocking.
“I’ll never recover from it.
“My life will go on, but I’ll never be the same because family means everything to me.”
Barry broke down in tears as he opend up about losing Danika while in the jungle.
He told Jane Moore: “Stage four bowel cancer, five weeks.
“Five weeks and she died.”
After her death Danika was awarded the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her part in 2020 thriller Wildfire.