Gladiator star Steel and wife reveal they want to try for another baby four months after tragic death of their premature son – as they voice need to ‘fill void’ left by the loss

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The lead actor from Gladiator, Steel, along with his spouse Samantha, have shared that they’re attempting to conceive another child after the heartbreaking death of their preterm baby, Leo.

Zack George, also known as Steel, aged 34, shared the news that his son Leo was born prematurely at 23 weeks on March 26. Unfortunately, little Leo passed away on April 7, following care in a special newborn intensive care unit.

Following the disclosure that a high-risk operation played a role in their son Leo’s demise, the couple – proud parents of two-year-old Ivy – have shared they have begun attempting to conceive another child as a way to fill the emptiness caused by their son’s passing.

Despite the quick timing following the unfortunate event, Samantha declared their resolve to provide Ivy with a lifelong companion.

To The Mirror, she expressed: “I adore Ivy so deeply that I wish to find her a lifelong companion. When we feel prepared, we’ve been granted permission to try once more…

Although it’s been a brief period, there’s a void we’re eager to fill, and that means we yearn for another child, ideally another son. Yet, we both acknowledge that whatever our upcoming child brings into our lives will be determined by Leo. People often say you can never replace Leo, but I feel that my next child will have a significant role in his legacy.

In simpler terms, it was a high-risk treatment that may have led to Leo’s demise during his struggle for survival. Simultaneously, the doctors discussed the challenging choices Leo and Samantha were compelled to make amidst this tragic circumstance.

The pair shared that although Leo’s chances weren’t promising due to his poor survival statistics, his large size and strong heart rate offered them optimism.

Unluckily, Leo started developing small air sacs near his lungs, which seemed to be growing larger. This condition suggested to the doctors that it might have been due to a tube causing a perforation in his trachea (windpipe).

He explained, “Nobody is to blame for this unfortunate incident. A child that young is incredibly delicate, so any event can pose a significant risk. It was an extremely difficult situation, as if it hadn’t occurred, he likely would still be alive.

In May, Zack and his spouse bid farewell to their newborn son at a funeral ceremony, and they displayed some of the beautiful flower arrangements used during the service on social media.

The emotional message was accompanied by a poignant picture showing Leo’s tiny white casket, atop which his parents were seen holding hands.

A month following Leo’s passing, his family organized a funeral as a heartfelt farewell to their beloved young son. In this ceremony, Zack shared the moving words he had spoken during the service.

This speech was incredibly challenging for me to deliver. From the moment you entered this world, you were small yet fearless, your little heart pounding with the strength of a storm.

In just a fortnight, you managed to impart lessons on love and bravery that many may never experience throughout their lives. Despite having a petite physical presence, your spirit was immense, bold, and fearless.

In simpler terms, “We affectionately named you ‘Leo,’ not because you were the loudest, but because you displayed great determination in sticking with us. You were familiar with our voices, could sense our touch, and felt the warmth of our hearts against yours.

He went on to say: “You were cherished, recognized, and adored. Although the world didn’t have much time with you, you impacted it significantly, and indeed, you transformed us.

Though you’re taking a break, your presence lingers – in tranquil instances, within the pause between sobs, in the void you once occupied simply by existing. Our dear son, our brave lion – rest assured, you’ll forever matter. You will always remain ours. Sleep peacefully, our little one.

Last month, Zack shared details about the hardships that Leo experienced during his 13-day stay in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

In a deeply moving post, he shared the significant struggles Leo encountered throughout his 13-day battle in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), expressing it as: ‘The trials Leo experienced while battling for 13 days within the NICU.’

The patient underwent three blood transfusions. He had a collapsed lung and two types of brain bleeds, both grade one and grade two. Additionally, he has a condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) that involves a hole in his heart. Furthermore, there’s a hole in his trachea which leads to air pockets forming in his lungs.

In this paraphrase, I tried to maintain the medical accuracy while making it more readable and easier to understand by breaking down the information into smaller, more digestible parts and using simpler language where appropriate.

Zack also announced the launch of a charity challenge in Leo’s memory, called ’13 days fighting’. 

If you have been affected by this story contact The Lullaby Trust on 0808 802 6868 or email support@lullabytrust.org 

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2025-08-09 12:19