Mark Wright’s uncle Edward dies after eight-week battle with Covid

Mark Wright’s uncle Edward has died at the age of 66, following an eight-week battle with Covid.

The presenter admitted he was ‘broken to pieces’ in a moving tribute after his cousin Elliott announced his father’s passing on Thursday.

Mark wrote: ‘You’d have to be God to find a better man than my uncle. Put simply, you won’t. I love you uncle Eddie, I’m never going to forget you. Broken to pieces.’

In a lengthy post, Elliott revealed his father passed away ‘peacefully’ on Tuesday after battling Covid for two months, just a week after telling followers he’d woken from a seven-week coma.

Elliott wrote: ‘It is with heart wrenching regret, that I have to post this post, my father Edward George Wright passed away peacefully with his family by his side on the 02.03.2021 after bravely fighting Covid for 8 weeks.

‘For those who knew my father, you know what a great man he was, always smiling, always humble, always happy, despite the fact in his later years he bravely fought prostate cancer, he never moaned and done his best to put a brave smile on.

‘His love for his family is what he will be remembered for to all of us, the ultimate family man, wanting to spend every woken minute with his 10 grandkids and children was his only daily thought pattern and request, was that to be with them, the ultimate family man.

‘For those who don’t know me well, the impact this has had on me, what can I say, I’m simply devastated!

‘To Dad, what can I say that you don’t already know in heaven, you are and will always be my rock, my best friend, the man who taught me to always be a gentleman, to put family first! 

‘Everything I know and have whether it be in business or personal is down to you an your guidance, my whole life, from a young age, I watched in ore of you, a mountain amounts men… doing deals, the king negotiator, with you by my side I could take on the world and still will do, as I know your love, affection and soul will always be by my side. 

‘The legacy and mark you leave is colossal, put simply if I could be half the man you were, when my time finally comes.. I would go a very happy soul. I love you dad, the hole you leave is monumental but the memories I will cherish for ever. 

‘I know you will be watching over me an the kids, I hope I continue to make you proud, Rest in peace dad. See you at the gates when the time comes. I Love you, with all my Heart.’

Other members of the Wright family also shared their own tributes in the comments, with Mark’s mother Carol writing: ‘Saddest news ever, broken to say the least, a champion and hero has left us.’

His sister Natalya added: ‘The strongest, most bravest man we knew. He will be missed so much. Our special Uncle Edward.’ 

Some of Mark and Elliott’s former TOWIE co-stars also offered their sympathies, with Lydia Bright’s mum Debbie writing: ‘To my darling Elliott may he rest in a place full of laughter and joy.

‘A place where birds are singing loud and the sun always shines. My love to you all until we meet again may he now RIP.’ 

Danielle Armstrong added: ‘Absolutely heartbreaking such a lovely family man and a true gentleman. Sending you and the family my love @elliottwright_ thinking of you all.’

Last month, Elliott revealed his father had been comatose for seven weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.

Taking to Instagram on his dad’s 66th birthday, the star wrote: ‘Happy birthday dad, you have been my inspiration for as long as I can remember.

‘You have always shown me life is a rocky road but stay positive and it will be a fruitful one… something I now preach to my kids.

‘A true leader and a fighter, to fight and beat Covid like you currently are 7 weeks in a coma and now out, still a way to go but some doctors writing you off I always believed in you and you proved me right…

‘You are a warrior.. I will always look up to you… keep fighting the love out there for you is incredible.

‘Soon we will be playing 9 holes and now finally I may actually get one up on you, either way soon when you are ready we will be sharing a bottle of bubbly in @olivias_la_cala love you dad x happy birthday x.’

In January Mark revealed coronavirus had left his uncle in a ‘critical condition’ after detailing how his own father Mark Snr had been ‘mentally changed’ by his battle with Covid.

Ex-TOWIE star Mark, 33, whose parents Mark. Snr, 64, and Carol, 60, announced on New Year’s Eve they had been struck down by the virus, said his father was ‘not the same as four weeks ago’ during an appearance on Good Morning Britain. 

Mark said at the time: ‘My dad is out of hospital now. One of my dad’s brothers is in hospital on oxygen. 

‘His other brother, my uncle Eddie, Elliott’s dad, is in a critical condition, we’re praying each night that he gets better.

‘We are hearing from doctors that he’s not getting worse, but we’re still praying he gets through this.’

Mark emotionally spoke about the after-effects of the virus on his father, saying it had affected him mentally.

He said: ‘I mean, he’s out of hospital and I hope he doesn’t mind me saying this but, mentally something’s not right there at the moment. 

‘He’s okay but he’s not my dad that he was four weeks ago. He’s better and I’m hoping there’s improvement more to come, but it can leave long lasting problems.’

Mark then made an impassioned plea to people to listen to the government and follow the rules pertaining social distancing, mask wearing and household mixing.

He said: ‘The message is what it should have been and has been from the start, like Kate has tried to promote on Good Morning Britain until you see it first hand, that might be the day you realise I need to buck up my ideas, but then it might be too late.’

‘I have good friends who are conspiracy theorists and they think it’s all rubbish and you don’t need to be locking down the country.

‘My answer is, the Government, whether they are right or wrong, they know more than you, so, if they are telling you to do this, do it.

‘Because until you get to a point where I am now, and I’ve had the hardest few weeks of my life and looking at basically potentially losing family members who are close to you or them being very sick.

‘You will regret doing what you are doing. So listen to the rules, stay at home, there is a lockdown for a reason.

‘Please just obey by these rules, it’s so important. When you see it first hand, it’s the most scariest virus you will ever see, the things it does to the body, what it’s done to my dad.

Mark’s sister Jess also revealed at the time that some of her family has been hospitalised by coronavirus.

The former TOWIE star detailed how Covid had ripped through her family like ‘wildfire’, with some having to seek treatment in hospital.

Jess wrote: ‘Covid has ripped through my family in the past month and it has been absolutely horrendous. Please stay safe everyone, stay home, wear masks and also check on loved ones regularly.

‘The fight isn’t over for us yet, we are taking every day as it comes and praying a lot. This new strain seems to be spreading like wildfire.

‘Thank you the well wishes for those who have known, for my family members that have been hospitalised by this awful, awful virus.’