BBC actor Finnian Garbutt, best known for playing PC Ryan Power in the police drama Hope Street, has revealed he is receiving hospice care after his melanoma was declared terminal. The 28-year-old shared the update with his social media followers, thanking the Northern Ireland Hospice for their support.
Garbutt first noticed a lump behind his ear in late 2020, initially dismissing it as an ingrown hair. After lockdown restrictions eased, his barber alerted him that the lump had grown significantly. He was diagnosed with melanoma in 2021.
The devastating news that his cancer was terminal came in 2024, just two weeks before the birth of his daughter Saoirse. Since then, Garbutt has used his platform to raise awareness about the disease among young people.
In a recent post from his hospital bed, he wrote: 'A day in bed supplied by @nihospice. Thank you that have supported me and my family. I will no longer be sharing my GoFundMe page, but it is still active in bio. Love you all folks.'
Earlier this month, Garbutt set up a fundraising page to support his wife and daughter, stating: 'All I want is my wife and little baby to have the life they deserve and I wanted to be the one that provided that, which now is unfortunately no longer possible.' The page has raised over £86,000 towards its £90,000 target.
