Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has revealed the tragic passing of her close friend Bex, who suffered a fatal blood clot on her brain just one day after welcoming her baby boy into the world.
The 35-year-old Welsh dancer shared the devastating news with her 723,000 Instagram followers on Sunday, posting a collection of photographs alongside an emotional tribute.
"I've been a little quiet. On Friday, I got a call from my darling friend Bex's mum, Anne, to tell me that Bex had a blood clot on her brain," Ms Dowden wrote.
She expressed her struggle to comprehend the loss, questioning how such a tragedy could befall someone "so fit, so healthy, so kind."
Amy Dowden has announced the death of her close friend
| GETTYIn her heartfelt message, Ms Dowden described her late friend as "the kindest person, always putting others before herself."
The dancer noted that Bex remained selfless even in death, having registered as an organ donor. "Even in the end, she was giving, an organ donor helping others right until the very end," she wrote.
Bex had only recently completed her family, giving birth to a son the day before her death. She leaves behind her partner Sean, their newborn baby boy, and a three-year-old daughter.
Ms Dowden reflected on the cruelty of losing someone she considered "a truly good soul" in such sudden circumstances.
Amy Dowden was recently paired with Thomas Skinner on Strictly
| BBCThe dancer shared treasured memories of their friendship, recalling their time as roommates at Blackpool competitions and sleepovers where Bex's mother would tell them to stop giggling and get some rest.
Ms Dowden remembered discovering Bex was pregnant while they shared a room during her hen do, describing how neither could contain their excitement at the news.
Bex had been a constant source of support during Ms Dowden's most challenging moments, travelling eight hours to visit her during chemotherapy sessions and accompanying her to hospital appointments.
"What I loved most were our random, overdue phone catch-ups, where I always knew I'd never be judged, only supported and understood," Ms Dowden wrote.
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Amy Dowden and her pal Bex
|She revealed her phone remains full of voicemails from Bex, which she will treasure forever.
Ms Dowden concluded her tribute with a promise to her late friend.
"Bex, I'll keep you close always. I promise to look out for your darling mum, dad, Sean, and your beautiful babies. Love you dearly, my angel," she wrote.
Fellow Strictly professional Dianne Buswell was among those offering condolences, commenting: "So sorry Amy sending you all love."
Strictly's Carlos Gu and Amy Dowden
| GETTYMs Dowden herself has faced significant health challenges in recent years.
She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2023, undergoing chemotherapy and a mastectomy.
By February 2024, tests showed no evidence of disease, though she announced in November 2025 that she would require another mastectomy, clarifying it was not prompted by a new cancer diagnosis.