Gladiator‘s Fury star Jodie Ounsley’s well-known dad, Phil Ounsley, has tragically died aged 56, after collapsing on one among Yorkshire’s three peaks. It has been reported that the blended martial arts skilled and former Gladiator suffered a suspected coronary heart assault at Pen-y-Ghent on Sunday (November 30). In response to The Solar, paramedics battled to avoid wasting him whereas airlifting him from the two,277ft peak – however it’s believed to have been too late.

Jodie Ounsley, who additionally performed for England’s rugby sevens staff, was introduced within the confirmed line-up for Strictly Come Dancing‘s Christmas particular and is because of movie her look subsequent Tuesday. A supply informed the publication: “Phil was completely match and wholesome. His dying has come as such a shock to all who knew him. He was such a genuinely nice man and did quite a bit for charity, and he was at all times exercising and pushing himself to assist others.”

The insider continued: “Phil is the final individual you’ll anticipate one thing like this to occur to because of the way of life he lived. It’s such a shock for his spouse Jo, daughter Jodie and son Jack, and his entire household are all clearly devastated.”

Jodie led the tributes because the grieving star took to Instagram and penned: “Heartbroken. Yesterday, my dad all of a sudden handed away whereas doing one among his favorite issues—strolling Pen-y-Ghent.

“He had hiked that peak numerous occasions all through his life, however none of us knew he wouldn’t stroll again down that day.”

The Fury star continued: “I don’t have the phrases. All I can say is that he was, and at all times will likely be, my absolute hero. He inspired me to dream huge and beloved me wholeheartedly, and for that, I will likely be endlessly grateful. Till we meet once more, Dad.”

Jodie’s sporting ardour noticed her observe within the footsteps of her well-known dad, who, in addition to being a former blended martial artist and took half in Sky’s 2008 Gladiators reboot.

The 24-year-old beforehand revealed how Phil’s success as a World Coal Carrying Winner impressed her to enterprise into sports activities.

In a Girls’s Well being interview earlier this 12 months, Jodie shared: “After I was three, I picked up a sack of carrots, put them on my shoulders and began sprinting across the kitchen.

“My dad used to do the coal-carrying championships in Yorkshire; I’d seen him operating with sacks on his again and copied him. I went on to compete in coal carrying from the age of 4 till 15, when I discovered rugby; it was the second I scored my first strive for my native membership, Sandal, that I knew I’d discovered my factor.”

Later this month, Jodie will be a part of the confirmed line-up with Scarlett Moffatt, Melanie Blatt, Nicholas Bailey, Brian McFadden and Babatunde Aléshé.