You may recall a report last month detailing how footballer Harry Arter amazed and inspired everyone by marching onto the pitch just days after his daughter was stillborn. Well, the AFC Bournemouth star has impressed again this week, after sharing an inspiring tribute to his late child.
In an interview with The Guardian, the 26-year-old revealed how losing his daughter has changed his life and encouraged him to live each day to the fullest.
Revealing how his experience has inspired his game, he said: “I used what happened to say to the lads: ‘Listen, I’ve experienced how short a life can be, what’s happened to my little baby could happen to someone in this team, so make sure you give everything today because these football moments are not going to last forever.’ And what I’ve learned from this experience is that life can end at any second.”
Harry and fiancée Rachel welcomed baby Renee last month, with her funeral taking place in a private ceremony on New Year’s Eve.
Paying tribute to his partner, Harry added: “To this day, I don’t know how Rachel – physically and emotionally – dealt with it. She stayed there the whole night, knowing she was still going to have to give birth naturally to our baby that hadn’t made it. And for her to do that…it’s the most respect I’ll ever have for anyone.”
Harry was lauded for walking out on the pitch for a match just days after losing his daughter, and he admitted that each and every game he plays now is done so in Renee’s memory.
Brilliant piece from @StuartJamesGNM, and massive respect for Harry Arter
https://t.co/oKGLVxUNRm
— Gary Gowers (@Gary_Gowers) January 30, 2016
Top flight footballers are humans just like us the rest of us.Heartbreaking to read.What a brave man Harry Arter is. https://t.co/ofyrg5aq2b
— Brede Skahjem Tokvam (@B_Tokvam) January 30, 2016
What a remarkable interview with Harry Arter. Reminds you that some footballers can still be inspirations to fans https://t.co/J259LTDcNA
— Adrian Sherling (@sherls) January 30, 2016
“Every single game now I go out – and this is the truth – to play for her. I think I need to do her proud and play as well as I physically can, so that if she’s watching she’ll be happy,” he said.
As you can imagine, there has been an outpouring of compassion and love for Harry after his heart-wrenching and beautifully honest interview, particularly on Twitter.
“Topflight footballers are humans just like the rest of us. Heartbreaking to read. What a brave man Harry Arter is,” wrote one follower, with his interview branded ‘heart-rending’ by others.
We can’t imagine how difficult a topic this was to discuss, and our hearts go out to Harry, his partner and his family.
