Gladiators star Steel's heartbreaking message to premature son after death (2025)

Gladiators star Steel and his wife Samantha tragically announced the heartbreaking loss of their baby son Leo, who was born at 23 weeks and weighed just two pounds

Gladiators star Zack George shared a poignant final message to his 13-day-old son Leo after his tragic death this week. Zack, 34, otherwise known on the BBC revival as Steel, told his Instagram following the sad news his son died on Tuesday, just days after he was born premature. Zack and wife Samantha decided to call their son Leo the lion because of his incredible fight to live.

Following his tragic loss, Zack has shared a final tribute to his son Leo. Posting a picture of himself and his wife Samantha with their baby boy, Zack wrote a message.

The touching message read: "We will see you again baby boy." Leo died after being born at 23 weeks and weighed just two pounds at the time of his birth. On Wednesday morning, the Gladiators star posted a video cuddling his son. Zack was seen crying as he cherished the moments with him in hospital. Alongside the post, brave Zack wrote: "I now see strength in a different way.

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"People would ask how strong am I and id answer with numbers of my squat, bench press or previous personal bests. Now I'd answer that very differently. Strength is holding my little precious boy knowing its breaking my heart but mending his."

Zack and Samantha shared the devastating news that their son had died in a post on Tuesday. The couple wrote: "Your mummy brought you into this world and your daddy held you as you left. Leo…… you showed us what the true definition of strength is and we are so proud of you.

"You brought so much positivity to the world with the short time you were with us and we felt that positivity in abundance, we thank you all so much for that. Although you were only with us for a short time, you brought us a lifetime of love."

"Thank you for letting us know that YOU had had enough of this fight. We will forever be grateful that we didn’t have to make that decision for you. Leo our lion, we love you more than you will ever know. Rest easy our little boy," they concluded.

Baby Leo arrived last week weighing just two pounds. In the post at the time, Zack had wrote: "Our Precious Boy Leo George [heart emoji]. You should still be tucked up inside mummy’s tummy but instead you entered the world on the 26th March 2025 at just 23 weeks weighing 1 pound 8 ounces.

"You never truly know how quickly your life can be turned upside down but one thing we do know is that you are one hell of a strong boy and you are already defying the odds." In the emotional post, he simply wrote: "Tiny, fragile and fighting," in response to his brave son continuing to fight.

*If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at childbereavementuk.org or you can call them on 0800 02 888 40.

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