Transgender Jeremy Kyle star and lottery winner Melissa Ede dead at 58 – Taxi driver dies 18 months after £4m jackpot win
The 58-year-old former taxi driver had become a multimillionaire after a scratchcard win in December 2017 - with it understood she suddenly died on Saturday night
TRANSGENDER lotto winner Melissa Ede has died 18 months after scooping a £4m jackpot.
The 58-year-old former taxi driver, who became a multimillionaire after buying a £10 scratchcard in December 2017, died suddenly on Saturday night.
Her fiancee Rachel Nason confirmed the news, with friends quickly expressing their shock at the tragedy.
Melissa's family are now working on funeral arrangements.
The former cabbie's death comes barely a week after she revealed she had said her final goodbyes to her family after suffering "crushing" chest pains at her Hull home.
She had been rushed to hospital due to the suspected heart attack on Bank Holiday Monday.
At the time, she said: "I really did think my time was up. My chest was crushing in. I thought, ‘This is it.’
"I told Rachel [her fiancee], ‘I love you so much. Always remember that."
Melissa had a series of tests but was given the all clear from the Hull Royal Infirmary after five hours.
She added: "It makes you realise how precious life is. You can be here one minute and gone the next."
Medics had told her that the "crushing" pain could have been down to anxiety, stress, or being overworked.
The multimillionaire had said the health scare had been a "wake up call", adding: "I need to start doing some of the things I have never had chance to do while I can.
"I am sat here now thinking how lucky am I. Maybe it is a wake up call to take better care of myself."
She had thanked NHS staff - but was hit with a online backlash.
It makes you realise how precious life is. You can be here one minute and gone the next
Melissa Ede
In response, Melissa filmed a video to address the upsetting comments, saying: "People saying it is a shame I’m not dead. Well, I’ve got a message to you people, there’s nothing actually wrong with this ticker or my lungs, all been checked out so you’ve got me for quite a while yet so I’m sure that will make you all happy.
"All I wanted to do was thank the staff who took care of me and then there’s all these people wishing I was dead.
"It’s like, surely you have got more to think about in life than wishing death on other people."
Melissa's cause of death has not been established.
'ONE OF A KIND'
The former cab driver was no stranger to fame, having a popular YouTube channel and an appearance on the Jeremy Kyle show when her daughter found out she was not her biological child.
But daughter Emily insisted she didn't want a penny of the lotto win.
Tributes have since poured in for the 58-year-old, with friends writing: "Omg r.i.p Mel you was one of a kind you will be sadly missed xxx"
Another added on social media: "So sorry to hear this RIP Mel condolences to her partner and family x"
After scooping the jackpot, Melissa had forked out thousands to change her appearance with a series of cosmetic surgeries.
She also splashed cash on a set of bizarre birthday gifts for her partner Rachel. The unusual presents included a giant condom, a fake slug and a broken tiara.
Melissa had previously vowed not to give any of the cash to her four children, who she says disowned her after she began transitioning from a man twelve years ago.
She had been planning to write an autobiography about her journey to becoming a woman after undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2011.