When sharing the heartbreaking news, Harrison's brother reveals that the TikTok star was not in pain and passed away peacefully while being surrounded by his family.
- Apr 6, 2023
AceShowbiz - Harrison Gilks' life has been cut short. The TikTok star, who got a large following from sharing videos as he completed his bucket list amid his battle with cancer, passed away at the age of 18 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Canada on Thursday, March 30.
On the day of Harrison's death, his brother David shared the heartbreaking news through a video he posted on Harrison's TikTok account. Recalling Harrison's last moments, David said, "He was not in pain when he passed away and he was with his family."
In the clip, David went on to assure, "Him and his friends got the opportunity to say goodbye over the last few weeks." He further expressed appreciation to Harrison's followers. "I just wanted to come on here and say thank you to everybody around the world for their support and encouragement," he stated. "It really did mean a lot to him."
Aside from David's TikTok video, Harrison's family has also issued an obituary for the late teen. "Harrison was an inspiration to many," his family began to describe the teen. "His smile could light up a room, his laugh could cheer anyone up. He was our sunshine on a cloudy day."
"He always found good in every situation and touched the lives of many with his messages of hope and encouragement through his TikTok videos, where he chronicled and shared his journey with cancer with the world," Harrison's family continued in the obituary.
On how Harrison's bucket list adventure was started, his family further shared, "Though he could no longer do some of the things he loved such as play hockey, softball, jet skiing and tubing, rugby, skiing, mountain biking or dirt biking, he managed to get some time in the woods with his dad to go hunting this fall, then he turned his attention to travel, while he was still able. He vowed to get as many 'bucket list' adventures as he could with the time he had left."
Days prior to his death, Harrison posted a video updating his followers on his condition. "I don't know how to say it other than the cancer spread. I'll be in the hospital for probably the remainder of whatever time I have left, which is obviously very upsetting," he announced in the March 21 clip taped while he was lying on a hospital bed.
Harrison was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that attacked his soft tissue, rhabdomyosarcoma, in November 2020, per reported by CBC News. After a period of remission, his cancer returned and was considered terminal in June 2022. He then came up with an idea to make his bucket list and shared his journey in checking off the list through TikTok videos.
