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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jamie Roberts

TikTok star Harrison Gilks dies of cancer at age 18 after trying to complete bucket list

TikTok star Harrison Gilks has died at the age of 18 after capturing the hearts of his followers while trying to complete his bucket list.

The Canadian teenager died "peacefully" with his mum, dad and brother by his side, his family has confirmed.

He passed away on March 30 after he had been continuing to share his cancer journey with over 314,000 followers on the social media platform.

Harrison was first diagnosed with the rare form of soft tissue cancer in November 2020.

At the time, doctors found a large tumour in his prostate and spots on his lungs.

Following months of chemotherapy and radiation he was told he was in remission in February 2022.

Harrison Gilks has died of rare soft tissue cancer at age 18 (harrisongilks1/TikTok)
He had been sharing his journey on TikTok (harrisongilks1/TikTok)

Unfortunately, though, in June of last year he was told the heartbreaking news that it had come back and wasn't treatable.

Following the news, he decided to share his journey on TikTok and amassed over 314,000 followers.

In a video on June 29 last year, he said: "This isn't the normal type of stuff I post, but I found out today that I have terminal cancer.

"I was cancer-free for a little bit, but unfortunately, it came back. The reason I'm making this and putting it out there is because I'd like to make a little series.

"I'm gonna go out and do a bunch of stuff that I've always wanted to do, maybe skydiving, stuff along those lines."

He continued to be open about the bleak outcome he knew he was facing, but shared a number of videos in which he tried to live his life to the full.

Among those that quickly gained him a strong social following were clips of him at a music festival, riding in a helicopter, meeting some of his favourite sports stars, and going on a number of vacations.

Harrison had shared clips of him in a helicopter (harrisongilks1/TikTok)

Sadly, a week before his death, he gave a stark update of his deteriorating health.

Speaking form his hospital bed, he told his fans: "'The cancer has spread to my liver and one of my lungs filled with fluid.

"It's really hard to breathe. The doctors said I don't have a whole lot of time left. 'I'll be in the hospital for the remainder of whatever time I have left. It's obviously very upsetting.

"I wish there was something that you guys could do, or I could do, or the doctors could do - but there isn't. This is just the way it goes.

"The best thing you guys can do is pray for me. I've been doing a lot of praying. Pray for me and my family. It's been a great ride."

Taking to Harrison's account earlier this week, his brother David told his followers Harrison was not in pain when he died.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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