CORONATION Street star Charlie De Melo has revealed one of his close friends has died at just 34 years old.
Coronation Street actor Charlie De Melo, who played Imran Habeeb in the ITV soap, shared the sad news that his friend Dave Schofieldhad sadly passed.
Dave, was diagnosed with a rare anaplastic ependymoma in 2020, and died at the end of last month.
Fighting through kidney and thyroid cancer, he was eventually diagnosed with brain cancer.
Writing on Instagram close pal Charlie shared a lengthy post with fans as he wrote: “Just over a week ago, I lost my friend Dave.
“Anyone who was lucky enough to be in Dave’s orbit knows the vacuum his absence has left. His loss is enormous, permanent, and for which I feel eternally grateful.”
He added that he’s been reflecting since his friend’s death, and how ‘short life is’ as he continued: “How cosmically unlikely it was that I would ever get a chance to ever meet, connect, and love this man.
“How small his window was and yet I got a chance to gaze through it.
“To marvel at his open heartedness, his curiosity, his generosity of spirit, his love of life, and love itself. My god, that man *loved* love.”
He explained his friend had a terminal diagnosis, but never let him stop him in life and he described him as “an inspiration”.
He shared: “Dave is, was, and remains an endless well of inspiration to us all.
“He talked a lot about legacy. What it means, how best to achieve it. Wanting to leave a small mark on the world after you’ve gone.”
Charlie then detailed how the pair became friends whilst playing Dungeons and Dragons, with their group of friends bonding over the game and outside of it.
He added: “We’ve seen Dave’s respond to crisis after crisis. Rolling with the (seemingly endless) punches, creating new normals, adapting and carrying on with good humour, grace, and so much love. I’ll never stop being proud of him for that.”
Fans have flooded the post with well wishes and support, as one commented: “Lovely words my brother. I know exactly how you’re feeling right now after losing a few close mates far too young. Sending you lots of lover and strength my brother.”
Another posted: “Beautiful words, Charlie. xx”
“What powerful words and what a lovely friendship you had. I’m so sorry for your loss,” shared a third.
More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives.
The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity.
Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis.
There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment.
Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return.
Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS.
They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision.
The nine most common symptoms are:
If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP.
Source: NHS
