Lauren Goodger, the former star of The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE), recently shared a poignant moment with her followers on Instagram. She showcased an almost invisible tattoo on her wrist that holds deep personal significance following a tragic loss.
In a heartfelt Instagram story, Lauren posted a photo of the tattoo, which she had partially lasered off. The blurred ink spells out ‘Jake,’ a tribute to her ex-boyfriend Jake McClean. Alongside the photo, Lauren wrote: “I had my Jake tattoo removed years ago and I never finished the sessions, but it was not that visible… Today my friend said let me see your arm you going keep that and I looked at my wrist and there is Jake’s name clear as day WOW.” She concluded her post with, “He definitely showing me today.”
Jake McClean tragically passed away in July 2022 in a car accident in Turkey. The crash also involved TOWIE star Yazmin Oukhellou, who was in the vehicle with Jake. The incident occurred at 4:30 am in Bodrum, Turkey. Jake, 33, was driving a Mercedes E-Class when the car veered off the road and plunged into a ravine.
An inquest revealed that Jake had nearly three times the legal drink-drive limit of alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of the crash. He sustained “skull fractures and brain damage” and died from “traumatic head injuries.” Yazmin suffered severe injuries but miraculously survived by pulling herself from the wreckage.
Dr. Shirley Radcliffe, the coroner at the inquest in Walthamstow, East London, stated, “The post-mortem found no natural disease, as you would expect in a young man of 33. The cause of death was skull fractures and brain damage. As far as I can see, he was driving under the influence — nearly three times over the legal limit for driving and had cocaine in his system. My conclusion is that this is an RTC.”
Lauren attended Jake’s funeral alongside other TOWIE stars, such as James Argent and Liam ‘Gatsby’ Blackwell. However, Yazmin was reportedly banned by Jake’s family from attending the funeral due to an alleged argument that occurred in the car before the crash. A source told The Sun, “Yaz had feared that she wouldn’t be able to attend, and her worst nightmare came true when it was made clear that she would not be welcome.” The insider added, “Yaz insists there was no argument and that Jake and she were happy.”
Lauren’s emotional revelation about her tattoo serves as a reminder of the enduring impact Jake’s tragic death has had on her life. It also highlights the ongoing struggle and resilience of those who loved him, as they continue to navigate their grief and remember his memory.
