The family of legendary British singer-songwriter Chris Rea are grappling with profound grief, describing their pain as 'gut-wrenching' following his death. This tragedy comes amid a devastating period for the Rea family, who have lost three siblings in a matter of months.
A Devastating Sequence of Loss
Chris Rea passed away peacefully in hospital on Monday, December 22, following a short illness. A spokesperson for his family confirmed the news, stating he was surrounded by his loved ones at the time. The 'Driving Home For Christmas' singer is survived by his wife, Joan, and his two daughters, Josephine and Julia.
In a heartbreaking revelation, Chris's sister, Camille Whitaker, has now shared that his death followed two other family tragedies. The youngest of the six Rea siblings, Nicholas, died in October at age 66 after a battle with brain cancer. Just days later, Camille's twin sister, Geraldine Milward, died suddenly.
Family's Heartfelt Words
Speaking about the cumulative impact of these losses, Camille Whitaker expressed the family's deep shock and sorrow. "It is an awful pain," she said. "It is gut-wrenching what happened. The family has been quite shocked by it. It is tragic. We can't sort of get around it."
The official family statement announcing Chris Rea's death read: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family."
Tributes Pour In for a Music Legend
Since the announcement, tributes have flooded in from across the music world and beyond, highlighting Rea's impact and character. Comedian and close friend Bob Mortimer led the heartfelt messages, sharing his sorrow on social media platform X.
Mortimer, who like Rea hails from the North East of England, wrote: “So so sad. A lovely brilliant funny giant of a bloke. Oh Man... RIP Chris... Boro legend forever. Love to family and friends.” The pair's friendship saw them even record a version of Rea's "Let's Dance" together when Middlesbrough FC reached the FA Cup final.
The nation now mourns the loss of a musical icon whose timeless songs, particularly the perennial festive favourite, have become a cherished part of British culture. The Rea family's courage in speaking out amidst their compounded grief has brought a deeply human dimension to this public loss.
