The brother of Emmerdale star Dale Meeks has said the actor was 'profoundly unwell' and 'let down' before his tragic death aged 47. The news was announced by a family member on Facebook on Sunday (April 23).
He previously played a gang leader of a rival youth club on the CBBC show Byker Grove and later appeared as Simon Meredith in ITV's Emmerdale. Most recently, Meeks appeared in the ITV drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat, as Moat's friend Rory Sutcliffe. The ITV drama hit the screens recently, with Meeks appearing in an episode of the hit series just last week.
He tweeted about his role in the new series, which tells the story of one of Britain's largest manhunts, in which murderer Raoul Moat killed his ex-girlfriend's new lover before shooting her and a police officer.
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Alongside an article about the series, Meeks revealed that he had watched the show and shared a picture of the back of a blue door displaying signs titled Room 9 and Male. He penned: "Superb article. Sadly watching tonight's episode from this equally mysterious and sinister location.
"It's fantastic to feel the love. Thanks gang. Keep it coming xxx." Shocked fans have since been paying their respects to Dale beneath the final post.
His devastated brother has now said his sibling was 'profoundly unwell' and 'let down' before the 47-year-old's death. Philip Meeks took to Instagram to describe how he 'tried so desperately' to help the star, who he claimed had been battling with 'undiagnosed conditions'.
He added: "Dale was profoundly unwell and unable to cope and undiagnosed conditions in men in their forties are killers. Dale was let down by those who should have seen beyond his ability to act and recognise his pain." Mr Meeks added: "The little boy I grew up with left me. I care for him so deeply... I will never get over his death."
Loose Women panellist and former Coronation Street star Denise Welch, who stared alongside Meeks in Byker Grove in the early nineties, was moved by Philip's tribute to her co-star on Instagram. "I'm so so sorry Philip," the 64-year-old wrote. "The way Dales illness and ultimate death has been handled is beyond shocking."
News of Meeks' death broke over the weekend with Ant and Dec leading the tributes. Announcing the tragedy in a statement, a member of Mr Meek's family said: "So unbelievably sad. Brother in Law, mucca, side kick and just the BEST friend a lad could have wished for. RIP Dale Meeks. So much less to laugh about now you're not there to share it with."
They added: "Thanks everyone for all the beautiful messages and memories you have been sharing. The support of Dale's friends has been so incredibly strong over these chaotic, heartbreaking final hours, I can only stand in awe.'
In a tribute on Twitter, Ant and Dec, wrote: "We are so incredibly sorry to hear the very sad news of Dale's passing. He was the loveliest of guys, even though he was a Denton 'Burner', the the arch nemesis of the Byker 'Grovers'! A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well bonny lad."
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