An emotional George Shelley opened up to Lorraine Kelly today over the tragic death of his sister and how her loss affected his mental health.
Harriet was just 21 when she was struck by a car outside a Stormzy gig in Bristol last April, and died a week later as a result of head injuries.
Recalling the terrible night on Lorraine, the former Union J singer said: “She was out in Bristol and she was drinking. You have just got to be so careful with alcohol, guys, just be careful how much you drink on a night out.
“So innocent, she just needed a wee and she ran out between two tall buses – I believe they were tour buses outside the venue she was going to for the gig – it was a silly mistake.
“It was nothing to do with the car, she fell back and hit her head on one of the buses. She was in ICU for a week.”
He added: “We watched the brain pressure go up and down… We had hope that she would live but in the end they told us they’d had three specialists in and even if she pulls through, she’s gone.”
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George said her death was a huge blow for his family, who were already helping his dad recuperate from a bike accident where he had sustained some brain trauma causing paralysis in one arm.
Holding his head in his hands, the teary former X Factor and I’m A Celeb star said it was a difficult time and he really struggled to cope with his loss.
“I didn’t just lose my sister, I lost my job and everything with my dad, it was a lot at once and I didn’t know how to cope with it,” he admitted.
George said at first he tried to cope by “pretending it didn’t happen” and throwing himself back into work but he soon realised, “I wasn’t well enough. I didn’t realise how much it affected me.”
When Lorraine asked how bad it got for him, George admitted he hit rock bottom.
He said: “For months I was in my bedroom, the lights were off, there were takeaway bags everywhere I didn’t speak to my friends, it was just a nightmare.”
He said he only got through it thanks to his best friend Emily and his other friends and family. He also said music has been his therapy, while the family are also taking solace from the fact Harriet’s death has saved seven other lives as she donated her organs.
Now George said he wants to “put all this negativity into something” by raising awareness of mental health.
He said: “This is the beginning of something new for me and I want to make a difference with mental health and help people, because there was a time I was looking for help and my best friend Emily and my other friends and family around me were the only help there was – and some people don’t have that.”
He urged people who are struggling to contact the charity MIND, which has a helpline, and said nobody should feel ashamed if they are struggling with mental health issues.
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He also intends to release some music for free – inspired by his own mental health battle – which he hopes will help others.