Eamonn Holmes has opened up about his family's heartache after Ruth Langford's sister took her own life.
He has explained the turmoil the suicide of Ruth's “lovely” sister Julia has left the family in, reports Daily Star.
Julia Johnson, who had battled depression for years, sadly died aged 62 in June last year.
The presenter, 60, said: “It’s just the unanswered questions. I mean, I experienced the sudden death of my father and there are a lot of loose ends – things where you wonder, what were your last words?
“What way did you last deal with that person?
“Sudden death is a very, very difficult thing to deal with, and with Julia you know, she was just the most lovely, gentile, kind person.
“I often used to joke to her and Ruth that I got the wrong sister, but she was a lovely, lovely person – tortured by mental depression.
“Ruth was very caring, very loving to her and I think there can often be a guilt when you think, ‘Should I have been there? Where was I?’.”
Julia was found by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey. Devastated Ruth, 60, was unable to go to work in the week following the tragedy and broke down in tears on air during a This Morning phone-in on anxiety and depression
two months later.
Eamonn added: “You can’t press the rewind button and what I would honestly say is that we were always very supportive.
“We were a loving family, Ruth could not have done more for her sister, and I think you know, it takes a lot of getting over that, a lot of getting over.”
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
