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Gladiator Star Steel Celebrates Bravery of Tiny Hero in Heartbreaking Funeral

BBG News

Actor Joe Steele, known for his role as a gladiator, attended a funeral service to bid farewell to his young son who sadly passed away after only living for 13 days.

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

In a social media update, the 34-year-old television personality and his spouse, Samantha, showcased some beautiful flower arrangements from their late son Leo’s memorial service in their recent post.

The poignant message was accompanied by an emotional photograph, depicting little Leo’s tiny white casket, upon which his parents tenderly held hands.

The heartrending update contained a deeply touching picture showing the small white coffin of dear Leo, with his parents embracing each other on its surface.

A month following Leo’s passing, the family organized a funeral as a heartfelt farewell for their beloved young son, during which Zack shared the eulogy he had delivered.

The speech stated: ‘This was the toughest speech I’ve ever had to deliver. You entered the world ahead of schedule, small yet courageous, with a heart pounding as loud as a storm.’

In just thirteen days, you managed to impart lessons about love, bravery, and fearlessness that many never learn throughout their lives. Despite your petite physical form, your spirit was immense – bold, fierce, and unwavering in the face of adversity.

‘We affectionately referred to you as Leo, our lion, not because of your powerful roars but due to your unyielding spirit in enduring. You recognized our voices, you sensed our touch, feeling the warmth of our love enveloping yours.’

‘You were cherished, recognized, and adored. Though your time among us was fleeting, you left an indelible mark on the world – and on each of us individually.’

As you take your peaceful respite, know that you remain with us in every serene instant, every gentle pause amidst life’s challenges, every corner of our hearts you touched simply by gracing our presence. Our brave cub, our lion—you will forever matter, you will always be ours. May you find eternal peace, dear boy.

Last month, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of empathy as Leo, my beloved idol, shared the harrowing ordeal he experienced during his 13-day battle in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). His latest heartbreaking post truly resonated with me.

On April 15, he posted a heartfelt video showing his wife Samantha seated by their newborn son’s hospital incubator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

In a deeply emotional post, he shared the significant hurdles that Leo overcame during his 13-day battle in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), expressing it as: ‘The trials and tribulations that Leo experienced during his courageous struggle in the NICU.’

He underwent three red blood cell replacements, suffered a collapsed lung, had minor and moderate brain hemorrhages, was diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus in his heart, and possessed a tracheal hole resulting in air bubbles in his lungs.

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

I couldn’t help but be moved by the display of bravery, strength, courage, and resilience that Leo demonstrated for us all.

In my own words, it was inspiring to witness such remarkable traits in action.

Back in March, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions when Zack announced that his beloved wife, Samantha, had unexpectedly gone into labor prematurely. Our hearts went out to the family as they bravely faced each day with their tiny fighter son, battling every single day just to be able to thrive. I’ve been an avid fan of their journey ever since!

Approximately 14 days after, it was shared by Zack that he had passed away. On this platform, he penned down: ‘Your mother brought you into life, and your father cradled you as you departed. Leo… you demonstrated the genuine essence of strength, and we are incredibly proud of you.’

‘Your presence infused our lives with an incredible amount of positivity during your brief stay, a feeling that was strongly felt by many. We can’t thank you enough for enriching our world with such joy.’

Zack went on to say: ‘Though your stay was brief, the affection you gave us spans a lifetime. We’re grateful you showed us when it was time for you to step away from the struggle.’

“We’re eternally thankful that we weren’t required to face that tough choice for you, dear Leo. Our affection for you is boundless, more than words can express. May you find peace, our cherished lion cub.”

This version retains the original sentiment but uses simpler language and a less formal tone, making it easier to read and understand.

Earlier, Samantha posted an adorable picture showing Leo’s small hand placed on her finger. This image was later reposted by Zack on his own account.

She penned in the caption: ‘Thank you everyone for your kind words and premature baby stories. 

‘Please keep them coming… they are giving us so much hope for our precious Leo.’

In their announcement at the beginning of April, they said: ‘Our Precious Boy Leo George.

Although you were supposed to remain in your mother’s womb until a later date, surprisingly, you made an early appearance on March 26, 2025, at only 23 weeks. You weighed just 1 pound and 8 ounces when you were born.

‘Life can unexpectedly take a dramatic turn, but what we can assure you is that you possess an extraordinary strength. You’re proving everyone wrong by overcoming challenges that others might consider insurmountable.’

He concluded the post with: ‘Tiny, fragile and fighting #Family #Leo #WeLoveYou.’ 

In January, Zack announced that he and Samantha were expecting their second child.

The bodybuilder took to Instagram with a sweet post alongside daughter Ivy, two.

With a bright smile, the young girl proudly displayed the ultrasound image, and Zack gleefully shared that the baby seemed “extremely eager” or “very enthusiastic” about becoming an older sibling.

He wrote: ‘Ivy can’t wait to make a new friend soon, as Little George version 2 is on the way.’

Should this tale resonate with your experiences, reach out to The Lullaby Trust at 0808 802 6868 or via email at support@lullabytrust.org for assistance.

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2025-05-08 11:08

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