Tributes pour in for Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding who has died from breast cancer, aged 39

Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding has died at the age of 39 after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

The singer previously shared the news of her diagnosis with fans on Instagram in August 2020.

Harding’s mother Marie shared the heartbreaking news on Sunday, saying: “It’s with deep heartbreak that today I’m sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away.

“Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day. She slipped away peacefully this morning.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year. It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved. I know she won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead.”

Last year she was told by doctors that Christmas 2020 “would probably be her last”.

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In her 2021 memoir Hear Me Out she wrote of how she underwent a mastectomy and intensive chemotherapy after her breast cancer diagnosis. Sadly, the cancer had spread to her spine.

After the news was announced, thousands paid tribute to the singer.

Her bandmate Nicola Roberts shared a series of photos of them together during Girls Aloud’s early years and wrote in a long tribute: “I’m absolutely devastated and I can’t accept that this day has come...

“A part of me or us isn’t here anymore and it’s unthinkable and painful and utterly cruel. She would have loved your messages today.”

Roberts described her bandmate as “Electric girl” and added: “You gave it everything and still with a smile. A white butterfly flew past my window this morning before I knew, it must have been you.”

Nadine Coyle, meanwhile, also a member of the band, posted a photo of Harding smiling broadly on Instagram and said she was “absolutely devastated” by the news.

Others paid tribute on social media:

Sarah Harding 1981 - 2021