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Harry Potter star Warwick Davis’ wife dies aged 53 after sepsis battle

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The actor revealed her death in a heartbreaking statement, saying
The actor revealed her death in a heartbreaking statement, saying 'I miss her hugs'

WARWICK Davis' wife Samantha has died aged 53, the heartbroken actor has revealed.

In an emotional statement, the Harry Potter star said his "favourite human" passed away on March 24.

Warwick Davis' wife Samantha has died aged 53 eiqetiqutiqxhprw
Warwick Davis' wife Samantha has died aged 53Credit: Instagram
Warwick and Samantha tied the knot in June 1991
Warwick and Samantha tied the knot in June 1991Credit: Rex
The couple share two children, Annabelle and Harrison
The couple share two children, Annabelle and HarrisonCredit: Getty - Contributor
The pair started dating when they were 17 and 16 after meeting on a movie set
The pair started dating when they were 17 and 16 after meeting on a movie setCredit: getty

The couple met on the set of movie Willow in 1988 and married three years later.

Devastated Warwick, 54, said: "Her passing has left a huge hole in our lives as a family. I miss her hugs."

He told the BBC: "She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life.

R&B star Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters dies aged 74R&B star Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters dies aged 74

"She had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes.

"Without Sammy, there would have been no Tenable quiz show, no Willow series. No Idiot Abroad Series 3."

Warwick said Samantha was his "most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career".

The couple's children, Harrison and Annabelle, added: "Mum is our best friend and we're honoured to have received a love like hers.

"Her love and happiness carried us through our whole lives."

Samantha was best known for her roles in Through the Dragon's Eye, ShortFellas and Honky Sausages.

Her dad Peter, an extra in Willow, later became Warwick's business partner.

Samantha had achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes disproportionate dwarfism.

Warwick previously opened up about his wife's health after she was rushed to hospital with sepsis in 2018.

The actor told The Sun that her health dramatically declined ahead of a family caravan holiday.

Celtic icon Frank McGarvey dies aged 66 as tributes paid to hero after cancer fightCeltic icon Frank McGarvey dies aged 66 as tributes paid to hero after cancer fight

Speaking of the horror a few years later, he said: "The next few hours were the longest of my life as I waited on the ward with our children in the empty space left by Sam’s hospital bed.

"I hoped it would not symbolise a future for us without her."

Sam had numerous operations due to her condition.

It is thought she contracted sepsis after decompression surgery on her spine.

She said of her near death experience: "We went home a week later and suddenly I couldn’t feel my legs.

"I thought I was still recovering from the surgery so I went to bed, but the next day I felt awful, as though I had been hit by a truck.

"I stayed in bed all day while Warwick and Harrison went to a family party and the next morning I woke at 4am feeling even worse.

"As the day went on I couldn’t concentrate, I lay on the sofa and when I tried to get up I collapsed on the floor."

Warwick, co-founder of charity Little People UK, has often spoken out about the health battles related to his own condition, as well his wife's.

He was born with Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), an extremely rare genetic form of dwarfism, which has been inherited by both their children.

He told the Guardian in 2015: “You look at somebody with dwarfism, the first thing that strikes you is probably that they’re short, and that’s it.

“But that’s the tip of the iceberg.

“It gets worse.

“Could be a cleft palate, hearing loss – or you end up in a wheelchair.”

He added: “As you get older, it gets worse.

“My hips are dislocated. Very painful knees."

THROUGH THICK AND THIN

Samantha once highlighted their unique romance with a tribute to her “beautiful inside and out” husband in a heartwarming birthday message.

She wrote: "You are the bravest, most caring and sensitive person I know.

"You amaze us all everyday with your courage and strength.

“I love you to the moon and back. Always and forever yours."

To mark her birthday, Warwick also tweeted a tribute to his "beautiful wife".

He added: “I so admire how she faces life’s challenges with dignity, energy and courage – she’s an inspiration."

Warwick has also spoken movingly about how the combination of both his and Samantha's conditions resulted in the deaths of two of their babies.

The first, Lloyd, sadly died after nine days as his lungs were too small to support normal function.

They also lost another son, George, when Samantha was 19 weeks pregnant.

He said: "It’s something that a baby won’t survive. But Lloyd survived for nine days, but yeah he was beautiful.

"It was a tough time. And yeah, we had a stillborn too."

Warwick insisted the tragedies brought him closer to his wife, and said: "That kind of stuff just makes you stronger."

Annabelle and Harrison have both followed their parents into the world of acting
Annabelle and Harrison have both followed their parents into the world of actingCredit: Getty
Warwick previously opened up about nearly losing Samantha to sepsis in 2018
Warwick previously opened up about nearly losing Samantha to sepsis in 2018Credit: Getty
The close-knit family have shared their health-battles
The close-knit family have shared their health-battlesCredit: Getty - Contributor

Tom Hussey

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