George Shelley sister: The tragic accident that killed his sister – but saved five lives – Express

George Shelley, 26, is best known for singing on X Factor and then with Union J, as well as appearing on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! where he finished as a runner up. On Saturday, he’ll put his general knowledge to the test for The Chase: Celebrity Specials.

In a tragic accident in 2017, George’s 21-year-old sister, Harriet, was killed when she was hit by a car outside the O2 in Bristol.

She had been at a Stormzy gig, and stepped out from behind a bus when she was hit by a car, an inquest into the death heard.

She walked out from between an HGV and a coach carrying crew and equipment for the Stormzy concert.

Harriet was struck by a VW Beetle and flung into the tour bus, which was parked in a layby at the side of the road on April 28 this year.

She had been partying with her friends at the venue and was reportedly three times over the drink-drive limit, though she wasn’t driving.

Harriet suffered devastating head injuries.

She was stabilised in intensive care at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital after the accident but her condition worsened and she died a week later.

But Harriet, a midwife, saved five people’s lives through her tragic death.

An organ donor, she supplied organs to five people, including a baby, the inquest in Bristol heard.

Harriet’s mother Toni Harris, who stayed by her daughter’s bedside, said she was “in the wrong place at the wrong time” and no one was to blame for the crash.

Assistant Coroner Peter Harrowing said: “In less than a second of emerging between the two vehicles she was struck by a Volkswagen Beetle driven by Claire Webster.

“Ms Webster reacted very very quickly indeed. Even though she reacted with such speed she could do nothing to avoid the collision with Harriet.”

Writing for the BBC, George opened up about the heartbreaking loss of his beloved sister.

He wrote: “I still get flashbacks from that night. There’s a side I don’t want to remember because it was so awful – but I do remember not wanting to be George Shelley any more.”

He wrote that the moment she died “it was like someone turned all the lights off in my head.”

He added: “People said we were more like twins – we did everything together.”

He has spoken out since about his mental health and dealing with grief to help others going through similar trauma.

He wrote: “I’ve learnt that it’s important to allow yourself to feel vulnerable, to accept the crutches that work for you.

“I’m on antidepressants and I see a psychiatrist. There is no right way of dealing with this pain.

“You just need to know there is support out there, and to not be afraid to ask for it.”

He said: “Losing Harriet is something I am going to have to deal with for the rest of my life.

“But I can feel her smiling with me wherever I am.”

The Chase: Celebrity Special is on ITV at 7pm on Saturday, August 10.