My best pal Gaz promised he’d be at my first show... his death at just 37 left me devastated

Every time Antony Cotton takes to the ice, he knows one special person is watching over him. Close friend Gareth Donnelly was the first person he told about doing Dancing on Ice and he vowed to cheer the Corrie star on from the audience.

But shortly after Antony shared his secret, Met Police officer Gareth tragically passed away – aged only 37.

He had complained of feeling ill and had just returned from a hospital consultation last July when he collapsed from a lung haemorrhage. He left behind wife Amy, 33, and daughter Matilda – six months old at the time.

Viewers saw an emotional Antony dedicate his first performance to Gareth and now, as he prepares to dance again tomorrow, he is determined to do his friend proud.

Antony, 42, says: “I had a very, very special friendship with Gaz. We met through mutual friends 10 years ago. I adored him. He had a very different life to me, he was in the police, so as far removed from showbiz as you could get.

“Because of that, he was the first person I told about Dancing on Ice. He was beside himself with excitement and promised to be there on the first night – and then, of course, he wasn’t. Gaz had survived testicular cancer in 2009 and a heart op in 2016. In July, he wasn’t feeling well so went to the hospital and they said they would do tests. But as he walked through his front door he died.

“When his brother rang to tell me I just didn’t believe him. It was like it wasn’t real. I had texted Gaz that afternoon and he hadn’t replied. It was a real lesson in life, because it was so unexpected, you never know what is round the corner.”

Antony is heartbroken that Gareth will not get to see his daughter grow up. Yet he is confident he is still watching over them.

He says: “Amy is incredible, so strong. They have got a one-yearold daughter and I am so mad for Gareth that there are things he won’t see. Before the first Dancing on Ice show I found a lighter in my jacket pocket that Gaz had bought me.

“I texted Amy to tell her and she said I should take it with me for luck. I said I didn’t want to lose it but asked Amy if she would come to the first show as my good luck charm. So she came with my partner Peter and my mum and dad.

“As frivolous as TV is, Gaz loved it. He loved showbiz, he loved gossip. He had

Antony with Peter