Baywatch star dies aged 68 as friend shares heartbreaking last words

Baywatch star Michael Newman has died at the age of 68. The actor passed away following an 18-year battle with Parkinson's disease.

A close friend confirmed Newman had died on Sunday, October 20. It is understood he suffered 'heart complications', his friend said.

Newman was best known for his role as 'Newmie' on long-running series Baywatch. In total, he appeared on 150 episodes of the popular programme - more than anyone else, except David Hasselhoff.

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MIchael's friend Matt Felker described how Newman told him he was 'just in time' the last time they were together. Felker, who was the director of the Hulu docuseries After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, also revealed that the actor was surrounded by family and friends when he died.

Felker told People: "I got to see Mike the last time he was conscious and he looked [at] me and in typical Mike fashion said 'you’re just in time'." Los Angeles-born Newman rose to fame as TV lifeguard Mike "Newmie" Newman.

He played a character with the same name as his. He was the only member of the cast who actually was a lifeguard.

Newman was also a full-time firefighter and continued in the role while filming Baywatch. He spent years raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support efforts to find a cure for Parkinson's - a disease he was diagnosed with in 2006.