Barry McGuigan’s actress daughter Danika dies aged 33 after ‘brief but brave’ battle with cancer – The Sun

BARRY McGUIGAN'S actress daughter Danika has passed away at the age of 33 after a "brief but brave" battle with cancer.

The boxing legend and his family revealed that she died peacefully in a heartbreaking statement early yesterday morning.




It read: "It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister, Danika "Nika" McGuigan.

"After a brief but brave battle against cancer, Nika passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday 23rd July, surrounded by her loving family.

"As a family we are devastated and ask for complete privacy during this difficult period to allow us to grieve for our Nika."

Danika was an actress and featured in a number of films and TV series including The Secret Scripture, Philomena and Can't Cope, Won't Cope.

'Nika' had also recently finished filming for Wildfire.

She was the only daughter of Barry and Sandra McGuigan, who also had three brothers – Shane, Jake and Blain.

FAMILY MOURNING

Shane took to Instagram this morning to pay tribute to his sister.

He wrote: "It breaks my heart to write this. My beautiful sister Danika lost her battle with cancer in the early hours of Tuesday morning, at the young age of 33.

"She overcame it once with a 2 year fight when she was 11 to 13. Myself, my brothers & parents were privileged to have another 20 years since the first battle with our amazing Nika.
"Unfortunately Nika couldn’t beat it again but she fought so bravely until the end. I have memories that I’ll cherish for a lifetime & you will live on forever in spirit.
"I’m so so proud of you! Love you forever my older ‘little’ sister. RIP"

BOXING ROYALTY

Irishman McGuigan Sr, 58, was a WBA featherweight world champion during his professional career during the 1980s.

The Boxing Hall of Famer is now a boxing manager and promoter, running Cyclone Promotions.

Shane does the training of the boxers – including the likes of Luke Campbell and Josh Taylor – while Jake and Blain work on the promotional side of the family business.

Brother Shane was in the corner for Chris Billam-Smith's loss to Richard Riakporhe on Saturday night as well as Lawrence Okolie's first win with his new trainer.

McGuigan and his daughter spoke out in 2005 about how Danika bravely battled leukaemia when she was 11.

Dad Barry told the Sunday Times: "Finding out that Danika had leukaemia was like being hit with a sledgehammer.

"There's nothing worse than your child getting sick. No amount of fighting in the ring could have prepared me for it."

It breaks my heart to write this. My beautiful sister Danika lost her battle with cancer in the early hours of Tuesday morning, at the young age of 33. She overcame it once with a 2 year fight when she was 11 to 13. Myself, my brothers & parents were privileged to have another 20 years since the first battle with our amazing Nika.Unfortunately Nika couldn’t beat it again but she fought so bravely until the end. I have memories that I’ll cherish for a lifetime & you will live on forever in spirit. I’m so so proud of you! Love you forever my older ‘little’ sister. RIP ❤️??

A post shared byShane McGuigan (@shanemcguigan) on




After a year and a half off school, Danika decided she wanted to go to a girls' boarding school.

McGuigan added: "She found a love of drama and is now at acting school in Dublin.

"The word "dynamo" doesn't do her justice. With Danika, the glass is never half-empty and never half-full. It's completely full. In fact, it's probably spilling over."




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