STRICTLY star Robin Windsor had endured an agonising health battle prior to his death.
The pro dancer faced becoming wheelchair-bound before a major back operation and battled with depression for years prior to his tragic death.
Robin first appeared on the hit BBC show in 2010 and finished runner-up with actress Lisa Riley in 2012 before making a final appearance in a Christmas special with Alison Hammond three years later.
But he claimed to have been axed from the series following a “horrible back operation” in 2014.
He said not having the surgery would have seen him “risk ending up in a wheelchair”.
Speaking at the time, Robin added: “Leaving Strictly wasn’t my choice. I had a horrible back operation and they decided that they didn’t want to ask me back the next year.
“It was probably for health and safety reasons, in case something happened, but I was physically fit.”
Robin revealed it was difficult for him to watch the show after having to leave his role.
Talking about when the injury took place, the dancer said he had “slipped a disc in [his] back” which had caused him “agonising pains”.
He continued: “I was paralysed on the floor of my friend’s house as the pain was so bad. I was there for three or four days.
“I couldn’t risk going ahead. It was a heartbreaking decision but I had no choice.
“If the slipped disc had popped out while I was dancing, I could have ended up with permanent nerve damage and been in a wheelchair.”
Robin also worked as an ambassador for mental health charity SANE, in an interview with whom he revealed he had suffered from depression when he was 19.
He began giving talks and leading team building activities during which he detailed his mental health battle.
Robin told the charity: “I didn’t really understand when I was 19 years old that I was suffering from depression at that time.
“And as I said, I was fuelling my life with as much as possible without drugs.
“Dancing is really what makes me happy and, without it in my life, I felt lost.
“Thankfully, I was given an opportunity to get back into it and had an incredible job travelling the world.”
It comes as:
He revealed how losing his role on the show was “probably the worst thing that could have ever happened” and culminated with other factors to cause his mental health to spiral.
Speaking to the Daily Mail’s Dr Max Pemberton’s Mind Clinic podcast, Robin said the combination of the back operation and leaving the show, along with a £100,000 bill to HMRC and a relationship ending had combined to send him “from the highest point of my life to the lowest quite quickly”.
Robin said he would struggle to “get out of bed” but continued “with a smile on my face”.
Strictly legend Kristina Rihanoff also today told of how Robin had been in “excruciating pain” prior to his death.
Sharing photos of herself with Robin on Instagram, she wrote: “
“There is no words to express the pain and devastation. Robin wasn’t just my dance partner, he was a friend and together we shared endless experiences from our careers highlights to hitting Rockbottom of rejection.
“When I got partnered with him on Strictly I was blown away by his kindness, lighthearted personality and amazing loyalty.
“He had stood by me through many rough times during Strictly for which I am deeply grateful for as there no one else to lean on. He always found the way to bring my spirit up.
“However his own spirit was absolutely destroyed when he was dropped from Strictly and that’s where I started to see changes in his personality, depression and broken self worth.”
She added: “While we went on to do many shows tours gigs & appearances together he was struggling more and more with instability of work and excruciating back pain because of the injury he had suffered during Strictly.”
Kristina joined a host of stars as tributes have poured in for the ex-Strictly pro.
Susanna Reid, who danced with Robin in a one-off special for Children In Need, fought back tears as she learned of Robin’s death live on Good Morning Britain.
She said: “He was an absolutely remarkable dancer, strong, so creative, he was just so enthusiastic about dancing. I just adored him.
“He was the most incredible personality. As soon as I danced with him there was something really special about it.”
Strictly co-star James Jordan said: “I had the pleasure of working with this man for many years on Strictly.
“Everyone who came in contact with him adored him, from his celebrity partners to his working colleagues. You will be missed old friend.”
In a statement read live on This Morning, Alison Hammond added: “I’m completely heartbroken. He was one of the nicest people to work with and so much fun to be around.
“I had the pleasure of dancing with him for the Strictly Christmas special and they were such special times.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
