Simon Thomas has revealed how he ‘sunk a litre of vodka every night’ following the tragic loss of wife Gemma to cancer aged 40 in 2017.
The Sports presenter, 51, and son Ethan, now 12, were left devastated after she passed away within four days of receiving an acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis.
Speaking to The Sun, ahead of the birth of his third child, the second with new wife Derrina, Simon revealed how he tried desperately to ‘numb the pain’ with alcohol amid his grief.
‘For months every single night was a battle not to drink. Occasionally I would win, mostly I lost’, he said.
‘I would sink a litre of vodka in an evening, disguised in a coke can’.
Simon Thomas has revealed how he ‘sunk a litre of vodka every night’ following the tragic loss of wife Gemma to cancer aged 40 in 2017
The Sports presenter, 51, was left devastated after she passed away within four days of receiving an acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis. (Simon and Gemma pictured 2015)
Simon said he found himself ‘on the verge of losing everything’ as he tried to ‘numb the pain’.
In April 2023, Simon opened up about the traumatic experience of losing Gemma to cancer and has revealed how God ‘brought love’ back into his life with Derrina.
Gemma’s death in 2017 at 40 resulted in what Simon describes as a ‘life earthquake’, and as a result of her passing he took time off to look after his eight-year-old son, essentially tearing up his contract at Sky.
The presenter recounted the rapid progression of his wife’s illness, and the profound impact that it had on his life – including his battle with his own faith.
‘We went from Monday night with her being diagnosed with a blood cancer of some sort. For a couple of days, things were looking OK the treatment was going well but then things just cartwheeled out of control.’
He continued: ‘On the Friday she falls unconscious and by 8.30 on Friday morning I’m being told by a consultant “she’s not going to see out the day”.
‘The very foundations on which your life has been built are trembling, there’s a massive life earthquake going on. And by 5.45pm on that Friday in November 2017 at the age of 40, with an 8-year-old son and a husband, she’s gone.
‘The first thing I did when I came out of that hospital was I just sank to my knees and shouted at God “Why? Why, why, why? Why’ve you left my boy without a mum, I don’t get it, I don’t get you God!”‘.
Saying: Telling the publication: ‘For months every single night was a battle not to drink. Occasionally I would win, mostly I lost’
The couple were married for 12 years and shared son Ethan, now 12 (pictured as a family)
It comes after Simon said he felt ‘blessed’ as he prepares to welcome his second child with his wife Derrina, with whom he already shares daughter Talitha, 15-months.
In a new interview he has told how he feels ‘really fortunate having the life I do’ despite losing his first wife.
He told The Mirror: ‘The baby is due in a few weeks’ time, so quite close to the end of the football season.
‘It’s been a massive joy to see Ethan having Talitha in the house, and in a few weeks’ time another brother or sister, so it’s been lovely. Obviously there’s an age gap but they’ve got a lovely bond.
‘The way her face lights up when he comes home from school. She can say ‘bye bye’ now and she loves watching him play his guitar. So it’s been a real source of joy.
‘Sometimes it sounds weird to say I’m blessed, because of what happened, but I am really fortunate having the life I do have, and be in regular work again.’
If you are struggling with bereavement call National Bereavement Partnership helpline on 0800 448 0800
For advice about drugs and alcohol visit www.talktofrank.com
Simon gushed he feels ‘blessed’ as he prepared to welcome his second child with his wife Derrina (seen with their daughter Talitha)