Kerry Katona's ex-husband George Kay dies of drug overdose at age 39: 'She's devastated'
George Kay, Kerry Katona’s ex-husband, has died of a drug overdose at the age of 39. Kay was the father of Katona’s youngest daughter, five-year-old Dylan-Jorge. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital on July 5. News of the death has reportedly left Katona “heartbroken”, according to a source close to the singer
Kay had a troubled life, with a long history of drug abuse. He reportedly struggled with mental health issues during the couple’s roller coaster relationship.
Metro reports that the 39-year-old former rugby star was found collapsed at home. Though he was immediately rushed to a hospital, doctors were unable to resuscitate him.
“Kerry was told this afternoon that George suffered an overdose and was taken to hospital, but was declared dead on arrival,” a close family friend of Katona’s said. “No one yet knows what he overdosed on or whether it was intentional or an accident. Kerry is heartbroken, he’s DJ’s dad and she loved him once. She can’t bear the thought of explaining to her daughter what has happened.”
In April 2014, Katona gave birth to their daughter, affectionately known as DJ. The couple tied the knot a few months later in September of the same year.
However, they divorced in 2017. Katona later admitted that Kay had been violent towards her during the relationship. Police arrested Kay over the alleged assault but the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. She got a restraining order against him which was still in effect at the time of his death. Kay had not met his daughter DJ for over a year.
The couple were childhood sweethearts. They first met as teenagers at Padgate High School in Warrington. In their early 30s, they were brought together again when Kay took a job as a security guard on Katona’s promotional tour for her autobiography, ‘Too Much Too Young’.
Mirror reports that he had been released on licence just months before, after being jailed for six years for blackmail.
Katona was in London with her current boyfriend Ryan Mahoney when she received the news.
“She’s devastated,” Katona’s friend said. “Kerry loved George once and, while she’s not had contact with him for a long time, it is a huge shock. Her younger kids, Max and Heidi, who she had with Mark Croft, loved George too and called him dad.
“She has no idea what to tell them.”