Tom Daley reveals heartbreaking moment he held his dad’s hand as he died of brain cancer
TOM Daley has revealed the heartbreaking moment he held his dad's hand as he died of brain cancer.
The Olympic diver, 24, was just 17 when his beloved dad passed away aged 40.
Robert Daley lost his battle with brain cancer in May 2011 - just a year before his son took part in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Tom has now opened up about the loss of his dad, revealing Robert was desperately looking forward to seeing him dive at the games when they came to the UK.
During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Tom said: "One of the last things he said to me was, ‘Do we have our tickets yet?’
“I thought, ‘Tickets for what?’ And he said, ‘Those London 2012 tickets, because I want to be right on the front row’.
"And I was like, ‘Oh my goodness’, because I didn’t know how to say to him ‘You’re not going to be around to be on the front row, Dad’."
Tom then revealed he was with his dad right at the end.
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He added: "I was holding his hand as he stopped breathing.
"I finally acknowledged that he wasn’t invincible.
"That he wasn’t going to be there to teach me to drive, to fill up my first pint, to watch me win an Olympic medal.”
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