Gladiators star Steel, real name Zack George, has shared the most painful chapter of his life — saying goodbye to his baby son Leo, who tragically passed away at just 13 days old.
Leo was born prematurely at just 23 weeks on March 26 and fought bravely in the neonatal intensive care unit until April 7. On Wednesday (May 8), Zack and his wife Samantha held a touching funeral service for their son, filled with emotional tributes, flowers, and tears.
Zack posted a photo of Leo’s tiny white coffin, with the couple’s hands resting gently on top. The image was accompanied by Zack’s heart-wrenching speech, delivered at the service:
“You came into this world early, tiny and brave, with a heart that beat like thunder… You were held, you were known and you were loved… Our son, our lion – you will always matter. You will always be ours.”
Zack also opened up about Leo’s struggles in the NICU — from blood transfusions to a collapsed lung, a hole in his heart, and a bleed on the brain.
“Bravery, strength, courage, and resilience are just a few of the many qualities Leo showed us,” Zack wrote.
In Leo’s memory, Zack has launched a charity challenge titled “13 Days Fighting”, honouring the fierce battle his son endured in his short life.
Though Leo was only here for less than two weeks, his impact was enormous — and his parents say he filled their lives with a lifetime’s worth of love.
