Man reunited with long lost brother after 50 years dies suddenly

A man who met his brother for the first time in an emotional union aired on TV three weeks ago has been left “devastated” after he since suddenly died.

Rob Hall, 49, was unaware he had a half-sibling, Steve Belshaw, 54, despite that they lived just a mile away from each other in Blackpool, Lancashire, for 50 years.

They were introduced in an episode of ITV’s Long Lost Family, which aired three weeks ago, and shared an emotional embrace.

But their union was short-lived after it emerged today that Mr Belshaw died suddenly, last Friday.

Mr Hall’s partner Kelly spoke out over the couple’s loss: “I don't know what to say other than we're devastated and he's been taken from us far too soon.”

Tim Hall, a former colleague of Mr Belshaw’s at Thamesdown Transport, said he heard the news of his passing from a close friend over the phone.

He wrote on Facebook that the cause of death was “unknown”, adding: "He was on ITV the other week on long lost families."

Another friend, Kevin Long, from Blackpool, posted a link to Mr Belshaw’s Facebook profile, which has been changed to "Remembering Steve Belshaw".

He wrote: "RIP Steve, so sorry to hear this news.”

Mr Belshaw’s mother Frances Unsworth placed a newspaper advert looking for parents to adopt him when she found out she was pregnant at 17.

She made the decision after his father was killed in a motorbike accident and selected a couple she thought would be good parents for her child.

Frances died in 2004 and Mr Belshaw never got to meet her. But Long Lost Family presenter

Davina McCall presented him with a picture of his mother on the show earlier this month.

Mr Belshaw broke down when he saw the photo in an episode of the show believed to have been filmed last year.

He said: “To have lost her boyfriend, the father of her child, I can only see her world fall apart. It’s unusual to advertise your unborn child but I think it’s an extraordinarily loving thing to do.”

Ms McCall delivered a further surprise after revealing the photo of Mr Belshaw’s mother Frances, saying: “Do you know where we got it? You have a half-brother called Rob.”

The pair later met in an emotional meeting. Mr Belshaw said: “To have a little brother… I never saw this in my wildest dreams. Meeting Rob has allowed me to feel closer to my birth mother. He has got so many memories to share.

"All that will help to build a much clearer picture of the kind of person she was.

“And knowing she had gone to all that trouble to find the most suitable parents speaks volumes about her character.

"If I had one chance, it would be to say ‘thank you’.”

Mr Hall told Mr Belshaw: “I hope we will be friends as well as brothers. I think we will be.”

A North West Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed paramedics were called to an address where Mr Belshaw is listed as living last Friday morning.

She said medics attended the scene and no one was taken to hospital.