Robert Irwin shares heartache over his grandfather’s tragic health struggle: ‘Spend every second with the people you love’
Robert Irwin made the heartbreaking confession on Sunday that his maternal grandfather had dementia.
The 19-year-old conservationist admitted in The Project that it was heartbreaking to see his grandpa Clarence – father of Robert’s mother Terri Irwin – experience the tragic effects of the degenerative disease.
“It’s devastating to see how someone you love can’t relive the moments they had,” he said.
Robert Irwin (pictured) made the heartbreaking confession on Sunday that his maternal grandfather suffered from dementia
Robert said the tragic experience put things into perspective for him.
“It reminds you that you have to spend every second with those you love,” he said.
He added he was hopeful a proposed new treatment would offer “a surefire way” to cure those suffering from the disorder.
The conservationist admitted in The Project that it was “devastating” to see his grandpa Clarence (second left) experience the tragic effects of the degenerative disease. Clarence is father to Terri Irwin, who is Robert’s mother. Pictured Steve and Terri Irwin with their parents at their wedding in 1992
Earlier this year, Robert’s paternal grandfather Bob Irwin – father of Robert’s late father Steve Irwin – said he was upset that he has yet to meet his great-granddaughter, who is the first child of his estranged granddaughter Bindi Irwin.
Bindi, 24, welcomed her daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell in March 2021, and she has yet to meet her 83-year-old grandpa, Women’s Day claimed in a report.
“He’s still talking about Steve (Irwin) and the kids, but it’s sad. I’m sure he’s devastated that he doesn’t know his great-grandchild,” an alleged insider told the magazine.
The report goes on to claim that all photos of Bob have been removed from the Irwin family home at Australia Zoo.
Robert said the tragic experience taught him to cherish every moment he had with loved ones. Pictured with his mother Terri and sister Bindi Irwin
There’s “little evidence Bob ever existed,” the insider claims.
“There are pictures of Lyn, Steve and the kids everywhere, but you’ll have a hard time finding anything about Bob.”
It comes after an Irwin family friend said Bob Snr was “deeply upset” by Bindi’s claims that he had “ignored” her since childhood – leading those close to him to fear that the crack could have tragic consequences.
Amanda French, the co-author of Bob’s 2016 autobiography The Last Crocodile Hunter, said family members have tried to protect Bob from the “full extent” of what Bindi said about him.
Earlier this year, Robert’s paternal grandfather Bob Irwin (right) – father of the late Steve Irwin – said he was “devastated” that he has yet to meet his great-granddaughter, who is the first child of his estranged granddaughter Bindi Irwin