Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother star George Gilbey has died suddenly at the age of 40 in a reported workplace accident as his mum Linda is 'in bits'. Tributes have been pouring in for George following the sad news. It comes just two years after his stepdad and fellow Gogglebox star Pete died aged 71. One of George's close pals told The Sun that his beloved mum, Linda McGarry, has been left devastated over her son's untimely passing. They said: "This will hit his family very hard, especially Linda. "First, she lost Pete, now her son as well. She is incredibly emotional. George was like her little treasure." Another pal said: "George was George. He was a good bloke with a big heart who loved his family. He was a bit of a party lad, but he was good entertainment for everyone who knew him. READ MORE Martin Lewis issues 'important' warning and tells millions to 'switch banks' "Nobody deserves this to happen so young - 40 is no age and to die at work is horrific. He had started going to the gym in the evenings and working very hard to do well for his family." And a neighbour said: “George was a really nice bloke, he said to be if there’s anything you need I can help you. “He would always say ‘oh hello, how are you doing? Do you need a hand with anything?’ Most people keep themselves to themselves here. George lived with his mum. He was well liked and a popular man, it’s so terrible what happened, a real shock. “He was so friendly, just like he appeared on TV. My mate text and asked if I’d heard about his death. I was shocked that I started crying. It’s so terrible, he was 40, that’s no age. I feel so sorry for his mum and the kids, they’ll be without him now." Speaking at the time of Pete's death, Linda revealed her son had been left "really cut up". She said: “Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years. I said to him, ‘We’ve not only been 25 years, it’s been day and night with each other. "He was my life. I have a message from a young lad I know who said, ‘Ordinary people won’t be remembered, but we’ll remember Pete forever - like the pyramids.' I thought that was beautiful. He was so proud of George when he was in Big Brother too. "Him and George really loved each other, George is really cut up."