Tuesday 22 March 2016

Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Dies, Aged 46


Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford - who made international headlines when he admitted smoking crack cocaine - has died after losing his battle with cancer. 
The 46-year-old politician had been transferred to a palliative care unit, where his family was by his side round the clock.
Mr Ford was diagnosed with pleomorphic liposarcoma, a rare form of soft-tissue cancer, in September 2014.
He underwent surgery to remove a tumour in May last year and in September declared himself cancer-free.
But a month later doctors found new tumours. Mr Ford underwent nine chemotherapy treatments.
The illness forced him to withdraw his bid for re-election as mayor and he ran instead for a city council seat, which he won in a landslide.
The flamboyant conservative won the mayoralty in 2010 in an upstart challenge based on a populist pledge to "stop the gravy train" at city hall.
Mr Ford's career was plunged into turmoil in 2013 after the publication of video showing him smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine.
He strenuously denied the reports until he suddenly admitted to reporters in November that year: "Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine", adding "probably in one of my drunken stupors".
Mr Ford was never charged with any crimes. His term as mayor also included slurs against minorities, lewd remarks about his sex life and drunken rampages.
Mr Ford leaves behind his wife, Renata, and their two young children, Stephanie and Douglas.

Skynews

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