Paul O’Grady ‘enjoyed a spliff’ in his final moments before passing away
Paul O'Grady, who has sadly passed away, was reported to have smoked a cannabis joint before he 'passed away there in his chair' at home, as revealed by his widower.
O’Grady, renowned for his persona as Lily Savage and later known for presenting various TV programmes, including “For the Love of Dogs,” passed away on March 28 at the age of 67.
His spouse, Andre Portasio, recounted the circumstances of O’Grady’s passing during a commemorative gathering on Wednesday evening. The event saw the presence of numerous notable figures, including Alan Carr, Amanda Holden, and Dawn French.
Reportedly, Portasio shared with the audience: ‘We’d spent an ordinary day, simply watching television together at home, when Paul expressed a desire to brew a “cup of tea,” which was our discreet way of saying he wanted to roll a spliff.’
He proceeded, as reported by The Sun: “So Paul went to the kitchen to brew a cup of tea, brought it back, ignited it, and began to smoke it – and that marked our final moment together, the last thing we shared. He peacefully departed in his chair.”
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the veterinary hospital at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will bear the name of O’Grady.
The TV and radio presenter assumed the role of ambassador for Battersea in 2012, following the success of ITV’s acclaimed show “For the Love of Dogs,” which completed 11 series filmed at the shelter.
O’Grady received a special recognition award at the 2018 National Television Awards for the programme’s significant impact in aiding the nationwide rehoming of rescue animals.
At the 2023 award ceremony, the late presenter posthumously secured the factual entertainment award for the TV show.
In August, Andre paid tribute to O’Grady on what would have been their sixth wedding anniversary on Instagram. He shared a photo of them cutting their wedding cake, describing O’Grady as ‘my rock, my confidant, and my partner in every adventure.’ ‘He taught me the true meaning of love, and I am forever grateful for the precious time we had together,’ he added.
O’Grady passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully,’ and his cause of death was later determined to be cardiac arrhythmia syndrome (SADS). According to the death certificate obtained by the Daily Express, this syndrome was linked to the late host’s heart disease.
