Australian actress and model Ellie Gonsalves has opened up about her father’s tragic death when she was just 24 years old.
Speaking on Life Uncut podcast hosted by former Bachelorette stars Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley, Gonsalves detailed the last conversation she had with her father Rick before he took his own life.
Gonsalves, now 35, was living in Los Angeles in April 2015 when she received a gut-wrenching call from her father who informed her of a marriage breakdown between himself and Gonsalves’ mother.
“He told me that they were getting divorced and separating,” she said.
She said after the phone call with her dad — who was just 50 years old — she went to bed, but just hours later she woke to a very distressing situation.
“I had like 16 or 20 missed calls from my sister. . . I’m panicking, trying to get on the phone to her, and she gets on the phone, and she’s hysterical, and she just goes, ‘Dad (has taken his own life)’,” she said.
“I start screaming.”
“I know why he did it, he just felt like he didn’t have an out. . .I don’t agree with any of that,” she said on the podcast.
“I wish my dad stayed. I wish we could have made him feel like it was worth it.”
Gonsalves also revealed she cut her mother and siblings out of her life following the tragedy.
Listeners flooded Life Uncut’s Instagram post of Gonsalves’ interview, praising the model’s resilience and strength in the wake of losing her dad.
“10 years later from the first time I heard this story from Ellie.. til now… I cry .. EVERY TIME,” fitness influencer Kayla Itsines said.
“We love you ❤️ thank you for sharing the deepest parts of your story with us xx,” Brittany Hockley said.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
If you or someone you know needs help, phone SANE Australia Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263).
Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.