Comedian Gareth Richards has died aged 41 after a horrific car crash.
The married father-of-two – who co-hosted on Absolute Radio with Frank Skinner – sustained serious brain injuries in the accident, according to a statement from his wife Laura.
Richards died at 6.30pm on Friday after being in hospital for two weeks, with his wife praising his ‘incredible’ doctors and nurses.
Scans revealed his injuries were so severe his supportive medications were removed.
It comes a week after Skinner, 66, broke down in tears on air as he told listeners Richards was in a coma and fighting for his life.
A tweet from Skinner’s show said that they were ‘heartbroken about the loss of our dear friend.’
Emily Dean, who co-hosted alongside Richards and Skinner when the Absolute Radio show first aired, called him: ‘my hilarious, unfailingly kind, gentle, beautiful friend.’
The trio hosted the show together for two years.
In a statement, Richards’ wife Laura said: ‘It is with great sadness that I have to share that Gareth passed away on Friday April 7 (Good Friday) at 6.30pm.
‘He was in a terrible car accident on Monday March 27 at 11.30pm and sustained serious brain injuries.
‘It was a miracle that he arrived at the hospital alive.
‘Since then, the doctors and nurses have been incredible and have kept him in a stable and sedated condition.
‘However, the latest scan revealed that the extent of the damage was so severe that they would have to remove all of the supportive medications and allow him to be at peace.
‘The boys are bearing up well.’
It is believed Richards was injured in a serious accident between two cars and an HGV on the M25 near Heathrow Airport.
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A man, thought to be Richards, was cut free from his vehicle by firefighters before being treated by the London Ambulance Service for head and chest injuries.
Richards has been performing comedy live since 2004, and has been planning to take his tenth solo show to festival this August.