Coronation Street has paid a touching tribute to sporting legend Rob Burrow who has died at the age of 41, after he visited inspired the motor neuron disease storyline last year
Coronation Street has paid a touching tribute to rugby league superstar Rob Burrow, who tragically died at just 41.
It was announced on Sunday, 2 June, that the sports hero had sadly succumbed to Motor Neurone Disease (MND), which he had been battling since his diagnosis in 2019. The deeply heartfelt statement said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend.
“Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with mnd (motor neurone disease). He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.
“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole burrow family have received over the last four and half years meant so much to Rob.” Offering their own tribute, Coronation Street took to Instagram to share a sweet snap featuring Rob and his wife Lindsey, along with actors Peter Ash and Dan Brocklebank, who play Paul Foreman and Billy Mayhew in the ITV soap.
They mourned: “We are very sad to hear of the passing of Rugby league legend Rob Burrow. Rob was an inspiration to so many throughout his battle with Motor Neurone disease, raising both funds and awareness of this life limiting illness.
“We had the pleasure of welcoming Rob and his wife Lindsey to the cobbles last year to meet Peter Ash and Dan Brocklebank and to discuss our MND storyline. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”, reports OK!.
Last year, Coronation Street embarked on a heart-wrenching storyline that saw Paul diagnosed with motor neurone disease after he initially began struggling with his grip. Initially, his symptoms were attributed to a car accident, but eventually, he was diagnosed with MND.
Reacting to the storyline, Rob spoke to the BBC about his hopes that the show would make a “big difference”. He told Sally Nugent and Jon Kay on the morning show: “I’m blown away from the response I’ve had, but Coronation Street will have the awareness on a whole new level.
“I think people who are looking for someone who will acknowledge the amount of work and time that goes into a patient with this horrible disease, I think that this will help bring it home.” In 2021, Rob’s wife Lindsey opened up to OK! about Rob’s diagnosis.
She told the outlet: “Rob is so strong. The only time he’s cried was on his 39th birthday in September this year, reading cards from the kids.
“I knew what he was thinking that he might not see his 40th. Life can feel tough. I wake up at 5am, care for Rob and the kids, go to work and squeeze in a gym class.
“Yet I’ve never had the slightest doubt Rob would do the same for me that’s what love is. It’s night-time when it really hits me. I feel like screaming and sobbing into my pillow. This awful disease is going to take Rob away.”
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