EastEnders' Dean Gaffney says he is 'completely floored' as he shares heartbreaking family news

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Dean Gaffney has put out an emotional post on social media announcing a tragic family death. The actor, who is best known for playing Robbie Jackson in EastEnders, has revealed that his mum has sadly passed away aged 69.

The 45-year-old, who competed in I'm A Celebrity... South Africa earlier this year, shared the heartbreaking news with his 100,000 followers on Instagram earlier today (August 14) where he said he feels 'completely floored'.

Sharing a black-and-white photo of him kissing his mum, along with a photo of her alone, Dean said how he was a 'mummy's boy' and how he had been the one to find his mum 'asleep'. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. In the caption alongside the photo, the TV star wrote: "I am simply broken to share that my beautiful selfless mother Marian has sadly passed away.

I was, am and always will be a mummy’s boy so this news has completely floored me. I spoke to her every day and in some ways I’m glad I’m the one that found her asleep. "I will retain all the amazing memories that we shared and whilst I understand the circle of life means everyone will feel this pain at some point in their lives, life can be very cruel at times, 69 is no age. "To know I will never be able to physically see or speak to her ever again is beyond any pain I’ve ever experienced in my life." He continued: "We all tell our parents and loved ones we love them flippantly at the end of a phone call but please tell them you actually really love them… put down that phone when you’re with them, as my mums only criticism of me was that I would be on my phone when in her company.