He’s been bravely battling cancer since the age of four but now Samuel Symons, eldest son of TV star and radio host, Red Symons, has lost his fight against the devastating illness at the age of just 27.
The heartbreaking news was announced by Red’s colleague from 3AW Neil Mitchell who read out a statement from the Symons family on Wednesday morning.
Samuel first developed a brain tumour when he was just a little boy.
“It is with the deepest sadness Red announces the passing of his beautiful son Samuel Symons,” the statement said.
“Samuel passed peacefully overnight surrounded by his family. We ask that you please respect the privacy of Red and his family at this very sad and difficult time.”
Red Symons’ son’s battle with cancer
Despite outliving his doctors’ predictions by some years, Samuel Symons’ fight against the disease that ultimately took his young life, began at an early age.
Six weeks after his birth, baby Samuel moved with his proud new parents Red and mum Elly, to a house in the suburbs of Melbourne. The new home had plenty of space for the growing family but at night, the hum of the neighbouring power substation could be heard through the wall of Samuel’s nursery. His cot was next to the common wall between the Symons’ home and the substation. His family will never know if Samuel’s subsequent ill health was caused by sleeping next to the electromagnetic waves.
By the age of four, Samuel had fallen ill. When his preschool teacher called Elly one afternoon with the news that the little boy was drowsy and could not open his eyes, Samuel was rushed to hospital by ambulance. There, it was discovered, Samuel had suffered a huge brain haemorrhage. From thereon in, Samuel’s health was never the same.
Proud dad Red Symons with two of his sons.
Samuel was diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly afterwards and by the age of 11, was being treated for thyroid cancer. As if Samuel hadn’t been through enough already, cancer struck for a third time when he was 16. This time, the teenager was diagnosed with another brain tumour.
After years of gruelling treatment including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, Samuel was thought to be in remission with his father commenting earlier this year after yet another recurrence of the disease that, “The result has been very good.”
But the fragility of his eldest son’s future was all too clear when Red followed up with the words, “However, the simple truth is – and anyone who has cancer knows this – it never really goes away.”
Tragically, for Samuel, his father was right.
Red Symon’s son’s work for cancer
Samuel Symons was nothing if not brave and so it was with his customary tenacity and good humour that he fought not only cancer for much of his life but for the youngsters who just like him, had fallen victim to this cruellest of illnesses.
Samuel dedicated much of his time to helping create a ‘home away from home’ for young cancer victims aged 15 to 25 at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. Now around 500 young cancer sufferers pass through the centre each year.
In his last interview on Ten News in May this year, Samuel said, “The important thing I think overall with any treatment is still being able to be you.”
Indicating the comfortable furnishings in which he was being interviewed at the centre, Samuel went on, “I am proud of what I’ve been able to do here because, you know, more than anything I went through the system where this stuff didn’t exist.
“I think that that’s the whole incentive. To find somewhere where patients and their families and their friends can come and enjoy themselves and be in a place that they feel comfortable.”
Watch determined Samuel’s ferocious fight for life as he fought cancer with every ounce of energy he had in this video below.
So instrumental was Samuel in shaping youth services at the centre that his work was recognised earlier this year with a Volunteer’s Award from Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy.
The Minister said at the time, “Samuel is an incredibly inspiring young man. Whilst dealing with his own health challenges, he has focussed on the needs of other people – particularly other young people with cancer. It’s an extraordinary contribution.”
Today, after news broke of Samuel’s death, the Minister paid tribute to him in a statement.
“Samuel Symons never once wavered in his determination to make the lives of fellow young Victorians with cancer just that little bit easier,” the statement said.
“He was a dedicated and inspirational volunteer intent on helping others and an eternally courageous young man — a fitting recipient at Victoria’s health volunteer awards earlier this year.
“He’ll be deeply missed, and my heart goes out to his family and friends.”
Samuel receiving his award for Outstanding Achievement by a young volunteer from Minister for Health Jill Hennessy earlier this year. Credit: Victoria State Government
Red Symons’ ex-wife’s grief for their son
Elly Symons, ex-wife of Red and mother to Samuel and his younger brother Joel and Raphael, said in a statement her son left a “shining example to us all” in the way he responded to illness throughout his life.
“It is with profound sadness that our family announces the passing of our son and brother Samuel Peter Symons,” her statement said.
“The courage and strength he displayed over 23 years was simply inspirational.
“His dignified humility in the face of adversity was a lesson to us all.
“Rather than complain, he accepted his illnesses with humour, dignity and grace and continued to amaze us by achieving the unachievable.”
Red and ex-wife Elly in happier times.
Red Symons on losing his son
Red Symons is best known as television’s Mr Nasty on long-running institution Hey Hey It’s Saturday.
But few viewers knew that while he was making thousands laugh as the caustic judge on Red Faces, the TV legend and his then wife, Elly, were fighting every parent’s worst nightmare as their young son Samuel battled an aggressive brain tumour.
Watching survivor Sam walk across the stage as a Year 12 graduate from Melbourne Grammar School just a few short years ago was a “dream come true” for Red, who dared to hope his son – who was battling a second brain tumour and had thyroid cancer – would live to finish high school.
Watch Red Symons starring in Hey Hey It’s Saturday before tragedy struck his family in the video below
Samuel went through years of gruelling treatment in a bid to beat cancer.
Credit: Australian Story Facebook
While finishing high school looked as if it might spell good health and a happy future for the bright young man, Samuel went on to have another recurrence of cancer last year; a year which, when interviewed at the time, Red said he would rather forget.
The TV and radio stalwart suffered a fall that resulted in a brain injury, and suddenly lost the ABC breakfast radio job he’d held for 14 years.
He also split from his wife Elly and they sold the Melbourne home they’d lived in since 1998.
“My darling son had a life-threatening situation, too,” said Red, referring to Samuel. “I had some dark days.”
None so dark as today as Red and his family face a future without their beloved Samuel and come to terms with losing the son described as, “funny, kind, witty and smart.”
Smiling Samuel who lost his fight against cancer today.
Credit: Australian Story Facebook
