Mr Motivator Derrick Evans reveals his granddaughter Hadassah has died aged 12 after a five-day battle with meningitis

• The health expert, 68, whose real name is Derrick Evans, shared that his granddaughter passed away in Antigua on Thursday morning
• Derrick admitted it ‘shouldn’t happen’ that he has to bury his granddaughter
• Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges), and is most common in babies

Mr Motivator has revealed his granddaughter Hadassah has died at the age of 12 after battling meningitis for five days.

The health expert, 68, whose real name is Derrick Evans, shared that his granddaughter passed away in Antigua, where she lives with her mother, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Derrick shared the news of Hadassah’s death in a statement via. PA, admitting it’s ‘not supposed to happen’ that he has to bury his grandddaughter, and urging his fans to ‘tell loved ones every day how much they love them.’

Tragedy: Mr Motivator, 68, has revealed his granddaughter Hadassah has died at the age of 12 after battling meningitis for five days

He said: ‘It’s not meant to happen like this. The circle of life dictates that parents and grandparents go first.

‘You are not supposed to bury your child or your grandchild. We have to fight on no matter what.’

Derrick added: ‘I want to remind everyone to tell your loved ones every day how much you love them.’

Sad news: The health expert shared that his granddaughter passed away in Antigua, where she lives with her mother, in the early hours of Thursday morning (pictured in 2017)

Sad news: The health expert shared that his granddaughter passed away in Antigua, where she lives with her mother, in the early hours of Thursday morning

Hadassah was the daughter of Derrick’s eldest daughter Caroline Evans Charles.

She was one of four of Derrick’s grandchildren, who appeared in a Twitter snap he shared in 2017 after travelling to Antigua.

WHAT IS MENINGITIS? 

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges).

It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly.

It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.

A number of vaccinations are available that offer some protection against meningitis.

Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis. 

Meningitis is usually caught from people who carry these viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat but are not ill themselves.

It can also be caught from someone with meningitis, but this is less common.

Source: NHS 

He wrote: ‘I am so blessed, for my 65th birthday, I visited my daughter and 4 grand kids who live in Antigua. 

‘So much fun, joy, laughter, good time was had by all… #LifeLessons Enjoy every moment as time is short. Be well.’

According to PA, Mr Motivator’s wife Sandra has flown to Antigua to be with the family following Hadassah’s death, and the fitness experty is expected to join them in the coming days. 

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges).

It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves. 

Mr Motivator was born in Jamaica but was adopted aged three months before moving to Leicester at the age of ten.

He shot to fame in the early 1990s as Mr Motivator with a slot on GMTV, and recently returned to screens on BBC One to ‘offer expert advice to get people moving during the coronavirus’.

He divides his time between Jamaica and Manchester, where he lives with wife Sandra and daughter Abigail, who has Type 1 diabetes. 

In 2020 Derrick revealed that he faced resistance while trying to launch his TV career, as he was told he wouldn’t appeal to viewers as a black man. 

He told the Radio Times: ‘When I walked into my very first job interview and the guy said to me, “Why didn’t you tell me you were black?”, I replied, “Why didn’t you tell me you were white?”

‘Later, When television came along, it took me ten years to get a break as an on-screen fitness trainer.

‘Every time I went to the studios, the guys would say, “Look, for a white lady with two kids, a black guy on TV would never work.” But I kept on persevering.’ 

Last year he was awarded an MBE last year as part of the postponed Queen’s birthday honours.

The exercise guru was honoured for his services to health and fitness after helping people stay fit through lockdown with his online home workouts.

Family: Derrick divides his time between Jamaica and Manchester, where he lives with wife Sandra and daughter Abigail

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