Mark Wright shares grandad's heartbreaking last words hours before he 'fell asleep forever'

Mark Wright has paid an emotional tribute to his grandfather, Eddie, who has passed away at the age of 92. The former Towie star shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, recalling fond memories of his grandfather, a former champion boxer and paramedic, who had been in hospital since a fall last June.

Mark, 37, wrote: "For 37 years that I have known you Grandad, I wondered and even asked you when I was a little boy numerous times “when do you think you will go to heaven”. I posed this question often, because I dreaded it so much.

"I’ve had messages from hundreds of people, some I haven’t seen in over 20 years. EVERY message has the same words written in some way. GENTLEMAN - KIND - LEGEND!! All these things you were and more. You loved your family so much and your biggest success is how close we all are and how many of us there is.

READ MORE: Pregnant Michelle Keegan shares 'gentleman' tribute after heartbreaking family death

READ MORE: Caroline Flack's mum 'devastated' as former boyfriend and friend share baby news

Read more Dean Windass breaks silence and shares 'worst thing' about dementia diagnosis

"You never got angry, you backed us no matter what, you never said no, even when I asked you to come on my stag do in Vegas at 83 (you still hold the record for the only person ever to order a cup of tea in a Vegas nightclub at 2am). If you told us off for being little s**** growing up, you’d apologise.

"You waved us off from the window every time we left your house & even 3 hours before you fell asleep forever, short of breath & not much energy left, you uttered the words “il come down and see you off son” that sums you up, you put EVERYONE first.

"You made everyone feel so special and left a lasting impression on everyone I know. My friends love you, my wife loves you and everyone you met loves you. Grandad you can never be replaced because you was 1 in a million, but we can make sure your legacy lives on. I will continue to be the gentleman you taught me to be, will look after Nanny and continue to make you proud as 1 thing is for sure, you were my biggest supporter.

"Thank you grandad for everything. I’m so grateful I got to love you, be your mate, that you was my teacher, my boxing coach, my taxi driver, my idol, MY GRANDAD EDDIE you legend I LOVE YOU FOREVER."

Mark's wife Michelle Keegan, who recently announced she was pregnant with the couple's first child, also posted a tribute, writing: "Grandad Eddie.. a gentleman in every sense of the word."