TOUGH TO BEAR
Strictly’s Kristina Rhianoff says Robin Windsor was in ‘excruciating pain’ as she reveals his secret health struggle
The dancer was left devastated by his axing from Strictly
STRICTLY legend Kristina Rihanoff has claimed Robin Windsor was in "excruciating pain" before his death.
Popular Robin was just 44 when he died and his passing was met with a huge outpouring of grief.
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He famously left Strictly in 2014 in acrimonious circumstances after undergoing surgery on his back.
The operation rectified a slipped disc which had exposed a nerve that caused him to experience severe shooting pains in his leg.
Writing on Instagram today, his friend and former co-star Kristina wrote: "There is no words to express the pain and devastation. Robin wasn’t just my dance partner, he was a friend and together we shared endless experiences from our careers highlights to hitting Rockbottom of rejection.
"When I got partnered with him on Strictly I was blown away by his kindness, lighthearted personality and amazing loyalty. He had stood by me through many rough times during Strictly for which I am deeply grateful for as there no one else to lean on. He always found the way to bring my spirit up. However his own spirit was absolutely destroyed when he was dropped from Strictly and that’s where I started to see changes in his personality, depression and broken self worth."
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Robin always insisted he was healthy enough to continue on Strictly following his surgery but claimed the BBC viewed him as too much of a risk.
He described his exit as "the worst thing that had happened to him".
Kristina continued: "While we went on to do many shows tours gigs & appearances together he was struggling more and more with instability of work and excruciating back pain because of the injury he had suffered during Strictly.
"Sadly, us dancers, always neglect our health because we always after the next gig, the next job and he just couldn’t look after his injury properly until there was nothing left to do but have an operation which also put him out of work for quite some time. Unfortunately 'stage live' of a dancer is short and nobody really cares because there is always the next person who can take your place and that’s the ugly truth. He often would say that he doesn’t know where he’s going and what’s will be next."
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Robin finished runner-up on the 2012 series with actress Lisa Riley and became one of the show's most recognisable faces.
He first appeared on the 2010 season with Patsy Kensit, before partnering Anita Dobson two years later and Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden in 2013.
Alison Hammond pays tribute to Robin Windsor on This Morning saying she is 'completely heartbroken' by her Strictly partner's death
Robin also partnered Susanna Reid and Alison Hammond in one-off specials.
His death was confirmed by Sisco Entertainment, which said Robin's friendship "was a gift cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him".
The cause of death is yet to be revealed.
Robin was an ambassador for , and spoke openly of battling depression from the age of 19.
Speaking to the charity, he said: "I didn’t really understand when I was 19 years old that I was suffering from depression at that time.
"And as I said, I was fuelling my life with as much as possible without drugs. Dancing is really what makes me happy and, without it in my life, I felt lost.
"Thankfully, I was given an opportunity to get back into it and had an incredible job travelling the world."
It comes as...
- Co-star James Jordan leads tributes for dancing pro James Jordan
- The Strictly star posted on social media just days before he passed
- Inside Robin’s relationship with ex-boyfriend & X-Factor star Marcus Collins
- He was forced to quit Strictly 'or risk ending up in wheelchair'
- Susanna Reid fought back tears on today's Good Morning Britain after learning of the death
- Photos show Robin smiling on cruise just weeks before his passing
Robin described losing his role on Strictly as "probably the worst thing that could have ever happened".
He added: "Not really understanding what was going on I found that I was sad.
"And, I know we all have our dark days, but my dark days turned into dark weeks and I wouldn’t get out of bed.
"I didn’t really understand why I was feeling like that or how to get out of that state."
His final post on Instagram was uploaded on January 28, a dimly lit selfie with the caption: "Hiding in the shadows."
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Robin had been working on a luxurious cruise ship in the Indian Ocean in the weeks before his death.
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