Condolences pour in after wife of Norfolk-raised Sky Sports TV presenter Simon Thomas dies
Gemma and Simon Thomas pictured at Dereham St Nicholas Church in 2004. Picture: Adrian Judd. - Credit: Archant � 2004
Norfolk-raised TV presenter Simon Thomas has said he is 'crushed with indescribable pain' after his wife Gemma died just three days after falling ill with leukaemia.
Simon Thomas. Picture: Matthew Usher.
The Sky Sports presenter tweeted the tragic news this morning and the committed Christian urged people to pray for their eight-year-old son Ethan.
Mr Thomas, who grew up in Cromer and at Grimston near King's Lynn, tweeted: 'Today I am crushed with indescribable pain. Just three days after falling ill with Acute Myloid Leukaemia, my dear wife Gemma passed away yesterday evening surrounded by her family and friends. If you are a prayer - pray for my boy Ethan. 8yrs, precious and in bits. Thank you.'
Condolence messages for Mr Thomas's loss have poured in on Twitter, including from football supporters across the country.
Mr Thomas, 44, who now lives in Reading, is a lifelong Norwich City fan, and Canaries supporters have been among those passing on words of comfort.
Norwich City FC tweeted: 'Simon, the thoughts of everybody at Norwich City are with yourself, Ethan and everyone else who knew and loved Gemma at this sad time.'
EDP Norwich City columnists Melissa Rudd and Robin Sainty were among more thousands to pass on their condolences via Twitter.
Most Read
- 1 M&S to close 32 stores as part of move away from town centres
- 2 WATCH: 'Unplayable' delivery from Suffolk bowler goes viral
- 3 Farmer says cousin's wedding venue will bring 'criminal activity'
- 4 The best places to eat in north Norfolk according to The Good Food Guide
- 5 Norfolk garden centre wins 27th gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show
- 6 Green light for new Sainsbury's store on 850-home estate
- 7 Men fined more than £600 for fishing illegally
- 8 Factory worker was found dead at home, court told
- 9 A47 clears following long delays after four-vehicle crash
- 10 Norwich man wins jackpot on BBC game show Pointless
Norwich Community Sports Foundation, for whom Mr Thomas has been a community ambassador, tweeted: 'Simon, it is impossible for us to imagine how you and Ethan must be feeling, but please know that everyone at CSF is thinking of you and sending our love.'
Football clubs, including Burnley, Fulham and Wigan, tweeted their support, while Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, Bournemouth's Marc Pugh and ex-Canary Anthony Pilkington, now at Cardiff City, offered condolences.
Mr Thomas was a Blue Peter presenter from 1999-2005, and worked alongside presenters Matt Baker, Konnie Huq, and Liz Barker.
Television colleagues, including Phillip Schofield, Andi Peters and Charlotte Coleman, also tweeted condolences.
Speaking to Mirror Online, he said his wife had felt ill last weekend and told to take tablets and rest. But she continued to feel unwell and, after taking her to hospital, she was diagnosed with leukaemia and taken to a specialist hospital in Oxford.
She started chemotherapy, but yesterday morning, Mr Thomas was given the devastating news that she had just hours to live. She died last night.
Mr Thomas, who thanked people for their condolences, said their son was able to have some time with his mother yesterday, but has asked for his mummy back for Christmas.
Mr and Mrs Thomas, 40, who used to work as a press officer for the Electoral Commission, were married at St Nicholas Church in Sevenoaks in Kent in 2005.
