Deborah James dad opens up on final moments with daughter during difficult Fathers Day
Alistair James, the father of the late Dame Deborah James, has shared his heartache with the world on his first Father’s Day without his beloved daughter.
The grieving father – who will mark the first anniversary of Deborah’s death on June 28th – emotionally reflected on his final moments with his daughter before her tragic death last summer as a result of aggressive bowel cancer.
The star had battled with the brutal disease for five and a half years before it finally claimed her life, with the BBC star and self-professed 'Bowel Babe' having died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones. Opening up about his final moments with his daughter, Alister told The Sun: “I was in the kitchen doing the washing up after lunch.
"Heather suddenly called for me, telling me it was happening and I needed to come now. Saying goodbye was very hard, but it was peaceful. Right towards the end, I told her, ‘You can let go now, you have done enough. You can sleep’. I’d never said anything like that before. I knew when the time was right. She needed to know it was OK.”
While wrestling with his own grief, Alistair admitted he was also concerned for Deborah’s family, including her husband Sebastian, 43, and their children Hugo, 15, and Eloise, 13 who would no doubt also be feeling the sting of her loss.
Expressing his “biggest sadness”, Alistair revealed how he was heartbroken to think of how many Father’s Days she would miss with Seb, Hugo and Eloise, and how she never got to realise her lifelong dream of becoming a head teacher.
“I am so sad that she is missing out. Her life was cut short just when she was living it to the full — she had so much to offer,” he told the publication.
Despite Deborah’s tragic death however, the star did leave behind an undeniable legacy after she raised more than £11.3 million to fund vital cancer research thanks to her BowelBabe fund. Throughout the latter months of her battle with the gruelling disease, Deborah had continued to champion for the cause close to her heart as she took part in a number of charity initiatives to encourage people to donate – even releasing both a book and a t-shirt.
The star was also instrumental in encouraging her followers to “check their poo”, a move which saw a huge spike in members of the public seeking medical investigation early and potentially even saving their lives in the process.
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