Gladiator star Steel has laid his baby son to rest at a funeral service following the tragic death of his newborn, who pᴀssed away at just 13 days old.

Steel – whose real name is Zack George – announced that Leo had been born prematurely at 23 weeks on March 26 but pᴀssed away on April 7, after being cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit. 

The TV star, 34, and his wife Samantha, shared a selection of the floral arrangements that had been on display at the service for their late son Leo in a social media post.

The heartbreaking post also included a moving image of Leo’s small white coffin, with his parents holding hands on top of it.

A month after Leo’s death, the family held a funeral to say goodbye to their little boy and Zack revealed the speech he had read out at the service.

The speech read: ‘The hardest speech I’ve ever had to read. You came into this world early, tiny and brave, with a heart that beat like thunder.

Gladiator star Steel has laid his baby son to rest in a funeral service following the tragic death of his newborn, who pᴀssed away at just 13 days old

Steel – whose real name is Zack George – announced that Leo had been born prematurely at 23 weeks on March 26 but pᴀssed away on April 7, after being in a neonatal intensive care unit

The heartbreaking post also included a moving image of Leo’s small white coffin, with his parents holding hands on top of it

‘Thirteen days. That’s all we had. But in that time, you taught us more about love, and courage, than most ever will. Your body was small, but your spirit was big, fierce and unafraid. 

‘We called you Leo, our lion, not for how loud you roared, but for how hard you fought to stay. You knew our voices, you knew our touch, the warmth of our hearts pressed against yours.

‘You were held, you were known and you were loved. And though the world only had a brief chance to meet you, you changed it and You changed us. 

‘Now that you rest, we still carry you— in every quiet moment, in the breath between tears, in the space you filled just by being here. our son, our lion— you will always matter. You will always be ours. Rest easy our little boy.’

Last month, Zack opened up about what Leo had to endure during his 13 days fighting in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a heartbreaking new post.

He shared an emotional clip on April 15 of his wife Samantha sitting beside their son’s incubator in the NICU.

In a heart-wrenching caption, he detailed the immense challenges Leo faced during his time in NICU, writing: ‘What Leo had to endure during his 13 days fighting in NICU.

‘Three blood transfusions, collapsed lung, a grade one and grade two bleed on his brain, a hole in his heart (PDA heart condition), a hole in his trachea causing air pockets in his lungs.’

One arrangement – which was white and blue – was from Leo’s grandparents 

Another was gifted from the late child’s aunt and uncle

Friends and family shared their support under the post

Zack also announced the launch of a charity challenge in Leo’s memory, called ’13 days fighting’.

He continued: ‘Bravery, strength, courage and resilience are just a few of the many qualities Leo showed us. 

Zack shared in March that his wife Samantha had gone into premature labour and that their little son was fighting everyday to survive.

But just under two weeks later, Zack announced the news of his death, writing on: ‘Your mummy brought you into this world and your daddy held you as you left. Leo… you showed us what the true definition of strength is and we are so proud of you.

‘You brought so much positivity to the world with the short time you were with us and we felt that positivity in abundance, we thank you all so much for that.’ 

Zack continued: ‘Although you were only with us for a short time, you brought us a lifetime of love. Thank you for letting us know that YOU had had enough of this fight. 

‘We will forever be grateful that we didn’t have to make that decision for you. Leo our lion, we love you more than you will ever know. Rest easy our little boy.’

In a previous post updating fans, Samantha shared a sweet snap of Leo’s tiny hand resting on her finger – which Zack then reshared on his account. 

Zack is best known for his role as Steel on Gladiators 

Zack has shared an emotional clip of his wife Samantha sitting beside their son’s incubator, detailing the immense challenges Leo faced during his time in the NICU

She penned in the caption: ‘Thank you everyone for your kind words and premature baby stories. 

‘Please keep them coming… they are giving us so much hope for our precious Leo.’

In their announcement at the beginning of April, they said: ‘Our Precious Boy Leo George.

‘You should still be tucked up inside mummy’s tummy but instead you entered the world on the 26th March 2025 at just 23 weeks weighing 1 pound 8 ounces.’

‘You never truly know how quickly your life can be turned upside down but one thing we do know is that you are one hell of a strong boy and you are already defying the odds. 

He concluded the post with: ‘Tiny, fragile and fighting #Family #Leo #WeLoveYou.’ 

In January, Zack announced that he and Samantha were expecting their second child.

The bodybuilder took to Instagram with a sweet post alongside daughter Ivy, two.

The little one beamed as she held up the ultrasound scan with Zack gushing that the tot was ‘very excited’ to be a big sister.

He penned: ‘Ivy is very excited to have a new friend very soon, Little George number 2 in the making’.

If you have been affected by this story contact The Lullaby Trust on 0808 802 6868 or email [email protected].

He had shared in March that his wife Samantha had gone into premature labour and that their little son was fighting everyday to survive