Television presenterJonnie Irwin, known for his appearances on the show A Place in the Sun, has recently revealed a significant regret regarding his battle with terminal lung cancer. In an emotional revelation, he expressed the biggest mistake he made after contracting cancer, which forced him to continue working despite his illness.
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Jonnie Irwin's biggest mistake
Sepaking on AIG Life's The OneChat, Jonnie Irwin candidly acknowledges the regret he feels for not obtaining critical illness insurance, which could have provided financial support during his illness. The absence of this insurance compelled him to 'continue working' instead of focusing solely on his health and well-being. He emotionally shared:
I didn’t take critical illness insurance out and therefore I had to keep working. Without work, I’ve got no means of paying the bills. And if I had taken the critical illness insurance out, that could’ve covered my outgoings and I probably could’ve told the world [about his condition] a lot sooner.
In retrospect, Jonnie Irwin laments the missed opportunities that could have come with having critical illness insurance. He reflects on the possibility of living a 'more open lifestyle' and regrets not taking advantage of the financial benefits that could have eased his burden. The former TV host said:
I could’ve had two years of living a more open lifestyle. And I want people to learn from that mistake. I think at the time I just thought I can better spend that money elsewhere. Where I don’t know. I’ve not frittered it away. Maybe because I know what benefits it would have had, it just seems ridiculous that I didn’t.
Irwin regretted not taking the extra cover and warned people with similar conditions to 'learn from this mistake':
I thought I was doing well just taking out life insurance. It’s one positive thing and helped me a great deal in getting a financial position in life to know my wife and my boys are more secure. But how I wish I’d taken out that extra cover.
Struggling with telling the truth
The hardest part for Jonnie Irwin was breaking the news of his terminal cancer diagnosis to his wife, particularly since they had recently welcomed twins into their lives, as per The Mirror. He said:
I can remember it like it was yesterday. And I’ve got no memory since my whole brain therapy. But that bloody memory stays in my head. And it is brutal. All I can remember is hugging her and just saying 'Sorry'
Tragically, Jonnie's sons remain unaware of their father's diagnosis as he wishes to shield them from confusion and distress. According to Jonnie, he doesn't see the need to disclose the news to them, stating: 'I keep being asked, 'Are you going to tell them?' but tell them what?' He believes that revealing such heartbreaking news would be overwhelming for them.
On the recent Father's Day, Irwin celebrated with Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac. Taking to platform on Sunday, the presenter and father-of-three shared pictures of him tucking into a slice of chocolate cake. He gushed: 'Had The best Father’s Day ever.'
The A Place in the Sun star was given just six months to live after being told he had lung cancer in 2020. Despite that, Irwin has defied medical predictions and continues to fight against his illness. However, the cancer has now sadly spread to his brain and he recently admitted he 'doesn't know how long he has left', reports The Sun.
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Sources:
The Mirror: Jonnie Irwin's heartbreaking step to secure wife's future after tragic death aged 50
The Sun: Jonnie Irwin dead aged 50: A Place in the Sun star dies after gruelling cancer battle
