Brenda Edwards has shared a moving tribute to her son Jamal to mark the anniversary of his death, saying he still continues to ‘inspire’ her every day.
The Loose Women panelist, 53, was left heartbroken when Jamal died of a heart attack in February last year after taking 'recreational drugs'.
The YouTuber and founder of SBTV – who had been responsible for helping launch the careers of some of the UK's biggest stars, including Dave and Ed Sheeran - was just 31 at the time.
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To mark a year since his untimely death, mum Brenda has shared a poignant tribute on Instagram, posting a video from a photoshoot edited together with images of her late son.
She wrote: “Self Belief is my baby Jamal’s mantra, this post is dedicated to my baby it’s been 1 year and yet it still feels like yesterday.
“I thank you for continuing to inspire me daily and for helping me to get my dreams together… this has been nearly two years in the making.”
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Commenting on the post, one fan told the star: “I can’t believe it has been a year my thoughts are with you and your family today Bren.”
Someone else said: “I cannot believe how quickly that year seems to have gone. I expect you have felt the loss everyday as I do with my son who we lost 7 months ago. We are having a fundraiser for him in March in the form of a music evening. I am intent to highlight mental health to prevent further loss.”
While a third wrote: “Thinking of you today. Jamal must have got it from you. Your strength inspires me as a mum who has also lost her son to carry on. He must be so proud of you.”
Referencing one of the photos in the video montage, another added: “Love the picture of Jamal in the red shirt. Looks like a halo above his head.”
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Ed Sheeran also honoured Jamal in an Instagram post, sharing an old photo of the two of them.
"Can’t believe it’s been a year," he said.
"Miss you every day, currently drowning myself in rum listening to tunes you loved."
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At the time of Jamal’s death, Brenda posted an emotional statement to her followers on Instagram, thanking everyone who had reached out to the family, saying they felt ‘incredibly touched by the outpouring of love and support’.
She confirmed that Jamal's ‘devastating passing’ was due to ‘cardiac arrhythmia caused by having taken recreational drugs’, saying her son had ‘the world at his fingertips’ and was 'taken away far too soon'.
"These types of substances are extremely unpredictable, and we can only hope that this will encourage others to think wisely when faced with similar situations in the future,” Brenda said.
“His passing has shown that any one bad decision on any one occasion can lead to devastating consequences.
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"It's so important that we help drive more conversation about the unpredictability of recreational drugs and the impact that they can have. How it takes just one bad reaction to destroy lives. I would do anything to have my son back but that is just not possible so if I can help save one life, then we will have achieved something."
Topics: Celebrity
Jess Hardiman