2GB host Ben Fordham breaks down live on-air as he announces his cousin's son Luca, five, has died after suffering a debilitating stroke
2GB host Ben Fordham broke down as he tragically announced on Tuesday's show that his cousin Tori's five-year-old son Luca has died, less than a year after he suffered from a stroke.
The 44-year-old confirmed his 'little mate' passed away on Saturday, before thanking the staff at Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick for taking care of the tot since he fell ill on November 29.
'Sadly Luca passed away over the weekend, and I want to tell you a little bit about what's happened to him,' Ben said.
Devastated: 2GB host Ben Fordham tragically announced on Tuesday's show that his cousin Tori's five-year-old son Luca has died, less than a year after he suffered from a stroke
The host explained that little Luca had been 'running along kicking a soccer ball' when his 'legs gave out from underneath him' last year.
'It was discovered he had suffered a stroke,' Ben continued, recalling how Luca was airlifted from Wollongong to Sydney.
'Poor old Luca had a whole host of issues that followed,' he explained, before confirming he had suffered a 'complete system breakdown.'
Heartache: The 44-year-old broke down as he said his 'little mate' Luca had passed away on Saturday, before thanking the incredible staff at Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick for taking care of the tot since November 29 last year. Pictured: Luca with his mother, Tori
The radio star said that Luca had been recovering in hospital since the day he fell ill on November 29 - Ben's birthday - until his death at the weekend.
'His mum Tori. who's a single mum with a lot of help from my mum and my sister, have been doing everything they can to get the best medical advice from around the world and that's been assisted in a great way by the children's hospital,' he said.
'But there was just nothing they could do for him in the end. He had several moments over the last year where things got very, very difficult for him because he'd get sick in hospital. He didn't have the strength to fight it.'
Loss: 'He died on Saturday afternoon,' Ben added, before breaking down in tears and thanking the staff at the hospital
Ben said he visited Luca on Saturday morning because the family knew his life was coming to an end.
'He died on Saturday afternoon,' Ben added, before breaking down in tears and thanking the staff at the hospital.
He concluded that the family would wait until October 25 to lay the little one to rest, after coronavirus restrictions lift in New South Wales.
Farewell: He concluded that the family would wait until October 25 to lay the little one to rest, after coronavirus restrictions lift in New South Wales
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