CELEBRITY SAS star Gabby Allen broke down in tears during a panic attack as she recalled her father’s heartbreaking death when she was 20.
On Sunday night’s instalment of the hard-hitting Channel 4 show, the DS had a one on one with Gabby and talk soon turned to the death of her dad.
Mike Allen died from an aggressive form of brain cancer known as a glioblastoma multiforme in January 2013 at the age of 54.
When asked why she decided to join the course, Gabby admitted: “My dad died when I was 20 from brain cancer.”
As she tried to speak, Gabby began struggling to breathe and began to break down in tears as she remembered her dad.
Trying to compose herself and catch her breath, the Celebrity Big Brother contestant continued: “It was a very quick turnaround from him just being normal to passing away.
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“He would have f****ng loved to have done this, absolutely loved it so the fact that I’m doing it, I want to do it because he would say, ‘it’s so sick’ that his daughter’s doing it.
“It shows that I’m not just twinkle toes, I’ve got a bit of grit about me.”
Chief Instructor Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham told Gabby that her dad would be proud of her.
This year’s series has seen a shake-up with the UK going up against Australia for the first time ever on the show.
Seven stars from each country have been pitted against each other to find out which of them are capable of completing the course.
Prior to the show staring, Gabby expressed: “I might be small but I have guts, am strong and am extremely competitive – watch this space!”
Aside from Gabby, this series also stars her fellow Love Island alumni Dani Dyer, social media personalities Jack Joseph and Cole Anderson-James and Rugby player Ben Cohen.
Rounding out the UK team are Gladiator and Olympian Toby Olubi and cricketer Graeme Swann.
Meanwhile, the Aussie team includes Married At First Sight star Jessika Power and Neighbours actors Ryan Moloney and Natalie Bassingthewaite.
Cricketer Brad Hodge, Olympian swimmers Emily Seebohm and Mack Horton and Home and Away actor Axle Whitehead complete the line-up.
In the second episode, MAFS star Jessika quit the show after it all got too much for her.
The recruits scrambled to get ready and quickly ran into the compound where they were instructed to start press-ups in the dark.
Staff member, Rudy shouted: “If you don’t want to be here, do us a favour and leave. Everyone stand up.”
The celebrities were then instructed to complete 20 burpees as the officers shouted at them to get on with it.
They were then told to fully immerse themselves in freezing cold water before moving on to a gruelling circuit of monkey bars and jumps.
“I can’t do this, I’m going to have to withdraw. I can’t do this, I’m sorry, I can’t do this,” said Jessika as she handed her arm band in.
