TOWIE's Kirk Norcross opens up on dad Mick's suicide

Last week, a coroner ruled former The Only Way is Essex star and businessman Mick Norcross took his own life over fears he faced the “loss of a lifetime’s work”.

Mr Norcross rose to fame as the owner of the Sugar Hut nightclub from the hit ITV series.

He was born in a Haslingden sweet shop in 1964 and was raised until the age of four in Blackburn. 

His mum and dad, Margaret and Bernard Norcross, both came from East Lancashire families, his maternal grandmother living at the house in Audley Range where iconic walking writer Alfred Wainwright grew up, and his paternal grandmother a few doors away.

The 57-year-old first appeared in TOWIE in 2011 during the second series after his son, Kirk, was part of the original cast.

Mick was found by his son who performed CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive but sadly he was declared dead at the scene.

Kirk, an original cast member on the hit ITV show has opened up about the impact his father’s death has had on him, urging his followers to “be kind”.

The 57-year-old first appeared in TOWIE in 2011 during the second series. (PA)

He said: "Listen I have got to talk about this and people, if you don't want to hear it I'm not being rude but you can unfollow me.

“If I can stop one person from killing themselves, I have really made an impact in this world. I love you all. Be kind, be polite and be positive.

"You have got to let it out, you have got to talk. I know many people who have lost their fathers. But I'm trying to use this. You are not alone, if you want a chat let's talk and we can get through it together.

“The mind is a mad thing, we aren’t strong enough to control that on our own. That's why we talk. That's why we talk to people, that's why people talk to us.

"I don't want sympathy, I genuinely do like people caring for me and I like caring for people. But I ain't doing this for sympathy."

At the inquest the hearing was told how Kirk smashed a window with a hammer to gain access to the property after he was unable to contact him.

He added: "I was the one that found him. I'm glad that I found him in a sense.

"I know that sounds weird but I wouldn't want no stranger, no doctors, no nurses having to deal with what I dealt with.

"My dad has manned up for me many times, it was my turn to step up for my dad you know. I tried to give him CPR and I knew there was no bringing him back but I had to try."

Mick Norcross’s son Kirk arrives for the 2013 National Television Awards at London’s O2 Arena (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

He continued: "It feels like my dad died when I was a baby or something.

"All the talks and chats that I have had with my dad feels like it was a dream. But that's just my brain telling me I'm not ready for it yet.

"My dad was my best friend, he still is. I don't care what anyone says my dad is my best friend. The best man I have ever met anyway.

"I know a lot of people who have already dealt with what I'm dealing with and said it doesn't get better, it gets a little bit easier to deal with.

"Obviously, the image I have got in my head will never leave me. That's the only image I have got of my dad of how I found him.

"I'm three months sober, that's the longest I have been sober. I was near on a year last year but then I had a little wobble when my dad went.

"But listen I have got to talk about this and people, if you don't want to hear it I'm not being rude but you can unfollow me. If I can stop one person from killing themselves, I have really made an impact in this world."

For support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/.