‘It has been a really big shock’: Mario Falcone ‘regrets’ not checking up on TOWIE co-star Mick Norcross before his tragic death
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Mario Falcone has spoken out following the sudden death of his TOWIE co-star Mick Norcross.
Former Sugar Hut owner Mick, who starred on the show from 2011 to 2013, was found dead at his home in Essex last month, aged 57.
Mario, 32, expressed his regret at not checking up on Mick and said his death has hit him the hardest out of any he’s ever experienced.
Grieving: Mario Falcone has spoken out following the sudden death of his TOWIE co-star Mick Norcross
Speaking about his grief during Mental Health Awareness week, Mario told The Sun: ‘I’ve been very upset. Probably out of everybody I’ve ever lost this is the one that’s hurt me the most, just because it was someone I really looked up to and it has come as a really big shock to me.
‘I beat myself up about things like that [reaching out], you can’t check on everyone you know.
‘Mick used to post positive stuff everyday. I’m always the first person to punish myself for things like that. It’s such a hard thing.’
In shock: Mario, 32, expressed his regret at not checking up on Mick and said his death has hit him the hardest out of any he’s ever experienced
Doting dad: Mario said his son Parker, two, has been helping him through the grieving process as looking after him has provided a welcome distraction
Mario said his son Parker, two, has been helping him through the grieving process, as looking after him has provided a welcome distraction.
The television personality was one of the first of Mick’s co-stars to pay tribute to him following his tragic death.
Mario said he looked up to Mick ‘in the highest regard’, after the businessman reached out to him when Mario tragically tried to take his own life eight years ago.
Devastated: The television personality was one of the first of Mick’s co-stars to pay tribute to him following his tragic death
Mario had previously spoken about how he tried to commit suicide during the height of his fame after a painful and televised split with his ex-fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh.
Sharing a photo with former Sugar Hut owner Mick, Mario wrote at the time: ‘This one is very hard to accept. I had so much respect and admiration for this man.
‘I had the honour of filming with him a lot on TOWIE and also to be good friends away from the show.
Tragic: ‘I’ve been very upset. Probably out of everybody I’ve ever lost this is the one that’s hurt me the most’, Mario said (pictured with Mick and his TOWIE co-stars in 2012)
‘When I went through my battle with depression and suicide you were the only one from the whole show that reached out and cared about me. You were someone I looked up to and held in the highest regard. The thought of you going through the same pain and emotional darkness I did breaks my heart.
‘You will be sorely missed by so many!
‘Thank you for the many memories in the sugar hut, the wild parties, the advice and dropping me off to get my R8. The world has lost a very good man.
‘RIP Mick Norcross.’
Sad: Mario also shared Mick’s haunting final tweet, just hours before he was found dead, which read: ‘At the end remind yourself that you did the best you could. And that is good enough’