Caroline Aherne's family have spoken of their devastation after she died alone at her home, with relatives unaware her health had taken a turn for the worse.
It was confirmed the 'Royle Family' star had lost her battle with lung cancer on Saturday (2 July) aged 52, with a family member now telling The Mirror that her condition deteriorated before they were all given a chance to say goodbye.
A relative revealed that she was alone at her bungalow in Timperley, Cheshire, when she passed away, explaining to the paper: "It was too quick, we didn’t expect her to go. She wasn’t in a hospice. She was just at home. She left on her own."
Her brother Patrick also issued a statement telling of his heartbreak at his sister's death.
According to the paper, Caroline's family found out her cancer was terminal two months ago, after she was first diagnosed in 2014, and she had been doted on by her mother in recent times.
While fans knew she was battling the disease, she had kept the severity of her illness private, and up until recently had been continuing to work, narrating on Channel 4's 'Gogglebox'.
Her 'Royle Family' co-star Ricky Tomlinson led the tributes after news of her death broke, telling the Sunday Mirror: "I’m so bloody shocked. She was absolutely wonderful and amazing to work for. Kind, funny, witty.
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