Gladiators star Steel devoted his life to help and inspire children be healthy before revealing the tragic news his premature baby son Leo died.
Zack George, who shares daughter Ivy, two, with his wife Samantha, heartbreakingly announced on Tuesday that Leo passed away at 23 weeks.
His life-long dedication to helping children saw him visit primary schools to teach kids how to be positive, healthy and happy.
He told the BBC: ‘It’s a passion of mine to show kids how to eat well, exercise and have a good mindset.’
Zack co-founded an initiative aimed at bettering health and wellbeing in schools across the UK with workshops for children aged three to 16.
He added: ‘You can see some of the kids who come into the workshops have low confidence, their heads are down, their shoulders are rolled over and they’re really quiet.
Gladiators star Steel devoted his life to help and inspire children be healthy before revealing the tragic news his premature baby son Leo died
Zack George, who shares daughter Ivy, two, with his wife Samantha, heartbreakingly announced on Tuesday that Leo (pictured) passed away at 23 weeks
‘By the end their chests are up, backs are straight and they’re smiling – so that makes it worthwhile. It’s really important to use the platform we have for the greater good.’
Zack shared in March that his wife Samantha had gone into premature labour and that their little son was fighting everyday to survive.
And on Tuesday Zack announced the tragic news of his son’s death, writing on Instagram: ‘Your mummy brought you into this world and your daddy held you as you left.
‘Leo…… you showed us what the true definition of strength is and we are so proud of you.
‘You brought so much positivity to the world with the short time you were with us and we felt that positivity in abundance, we thank you all so much for that.’
Zack continued: ‘Although you were only with us for a short time, you brought us a lifetime of love. Thank you for letting us know that YOU had had enough of this fight.
‘We will forever be grateful that we didn’t have to make that decision for you. Leo our lion, we love you more than you will ever know. Rest easy our little boy.’
In a previous post updating fans on Sunday afternoon, Samantha shared a sweet snap of Leo’s tiny hand resting on her finger – which Zack then re-shared on his account.
On Tuesday Zack announced the tragic news of his death writing on Instagram: ‘Your mummy brought you into this world and your daddy held you as you left…’
Zack shared in March that his wife Samantha had gone into premature labour and that their little son was fighting everyday to survive
Zack George shared with his fans on Saturday that his baby boy was born prematurely and is ‘tiny, fragile, and fighting’
Zack and Samantha have a two-year-old daughter Ivy
Before rising to fame, Zack revealed he battled a ‘fast food addiction’ and underwent an incredible fitness transformation
The budding TV star looks unrecognisable in photos from his school days when he said he did little exercise and often gorged on fast food
She penned in the caption: ‘Thank you everyone for your kind words and premature baby stories.
‘Please keep them coming… they are giving us so much hope for our precious Leo.’
Seven months before their heartbreaking baby loss, the couple were in their dream bubble as they wed in an idyllic intimate ceremony.
Before rising to fame, Zack revealed he battled a ‘fast food addiction’ and underwent an incredible fitness transformation.
He previously told The Sun: ‘I led a really unhealthy lifestyle. I practically inhaled chocolate and ate McDonald’s and KFC — a family bucket — five times a week. The more fast food I ate, the more I craved it. It was a vicious cycle.
‘Being overweight makes you feel rubbish. You can’t walk or run far so you don’t want to exercise and you often end up finding comfort in fast food.’
He was named as champion in UK CrossFit in 2020 and will be showcasing his athleticism further on Gladiators.
Speaking about joining the show, he said: ‘I was inspired by the Gladiators as a child, but never imagined I’d be physically fit enough to be considered a “superhuman”.
‘I hope a new generation of fans will look up to me as their new strong, unbreakable hero, Steel.’
