The actress shared the tragic news in an emotional statement posted on Instagram, confirming that her “beautiful baby boy” passed away on December 17.
Emma O’Neill Content Editor
12:07, 18 Dec 2025
(Image: debbie_rush/Instagram)
Coronation Street star Debbie Rush has announced the death of her son, William, just days before Christmas.
The actress shared the tragic news in an emotional statement posted on Instagram, confirming that her “beautiful baby boy” passed away on December 17.
In the message, Rush said her family was “completely broken” by the loss and described the pain as impossible to put into words. She wrote that there were “no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss” following William’s death.
Rush also revealed that her son became an organ donor, describing it as a final act of kindness that has given hope and life to other families. She said that even in the family’s darkest moment, William was “thinking of others right to the very end”.
“Through being an organ donor, he has given hope and life to other families,” she wrote. “His kindness and love will forever be part of his legacy.”
The actress asked for privacy for herself and her loved ones as they come to terms with what she described as “unimaginable grief”. She said William would “always be loved, always missed, and forever in our hearts”.
William was an actor in his own right and appeared in BBC drama Waterloo Road, where he was known to viewers for his on-screen role. Tributes have since poured in from fans of the show, as well as friends and colleagues from the television industry, who have offered messages of support to Rush and her family.
Rush is best known for her role as Anna Windass on ITV soap Coronation Street, a character she played for more than a decade. News of her son’s death prompted an outpouring of messages of support and condolences from fans and fellow actors on social media.
The actress has not shared further details surrounding William’s death, focusing instead on paying tribute to his life and the comfort taken from his decision to become an organ donor.
