Paul O'Grady died one year ago at the age of 67 after a sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
The much-loved TV presenter, who had twice suffered a heart attack, was at home in Kent when he was found collapsed on the kitchen floor by his partner of 18 years, Andre Portasio. "I walked to the kitchen to start putting some food on and I started taking things out of the fridge," said Andre in an exclusive interview with the Mirror this week.
"And all of a sudden I could see him lying on the floor." A decade before his death, in an interview with the Independent, the Lily Savage star described how he had left firm instructions in his will which stated that he was not to be resuscitated under any circumstances.
"I've put in my will – the solicitor was roaring laughing – 'God help anyone who ignores my wishes, because when your turn comes to die I'll be stood at the gates of hell waiting for you'," quipped Paul.
Paul and Andre were together for 18 years (Andre Portasio)The Blankety Blank presenter had also called for assisted suicide to be legalised, inspired by a friend who had desperately asked for help to end his life when dying from throat cancer. He said: "You must have something to push me on me way," said the comedian. "He didn't want to die in a hospice on his own, slowly rotting."
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Paul was unable to assist but having seen "too many horrific deaths", the experience made him reflect on his own passing. "I know if I was in that position I wouldn't want to stay around," he said. "I don't want to lie here in agony."
The star's partner Andre told the Mirror he was frozen with shock when he found the love of his life lying on the floor. "I just didn’t know what to think at first," he said. "He had a cut on his forehead and I thought he was probably just unconscious. I called the ambulance and they said the best chance to keep him alive was to do CPR."
The broadcaster was a huge animal lover and presented a show at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (No credit)Andre was exhausted by the time paramedics arrived and they spent an hour trying to resuscitate him, unsuccessfully. Fittingly, Paul was comforted by his beloved dog Arfur in his last moments. The animal lover left £500,000 in his will to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where he presented popular ITV show Paul O'Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.
Andre described how the comedian was hugely generous by nature, receiving a letter from a lady from his village describing how she’d once reached out to Paul for some money for the community hall. "She said how he instantly wrote the cheque no questions asked," he said. "I was so moved by her letter I went to knock on her house and thank her. But that’s how he was… his door was always open, not only to his friends but everyone."
Watch The Life and Death of Lily Savage andPaul O’Grady’s Great Elephant Adventure on Friday March 29 at 9pm on ITV1
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