Lewis Hamilton’s Bulldog, Roscoe, Has Passed Away After 3 Days in a Coma

On Monday, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton announced on Instagram that his faithful Bulldog Roscoe had passed away. The 12-year dog had been in on life support since Friday. The BBC reported that Hamilton missed an F1 tyre test to spend time with his beloved pup, who had slipped into a coma when he was put under to perform checks after his second bout with pneumonia. 

Hamilton shared a collection of photographs featuring himself and Roscoe, from Roscoe’s first moments as a puppy to the last time Hamilton held his paw. He posted a long, heartfelt caption recounting his time with Roscoe. 

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“After four days on life support, fighting with every bit of strength he had, I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram. “He never stopped fighting, right until the very end. I feel so grateful and honored to have shared my life with such a beautiful soul, an angel and true friend. Bringing Roscoe into my life was the best decision I ever made, and I will forever cherish the memories we created together.”

Hamilton also referenced his previous bulldog Coco, who passed in 2020 after an unexpected heart attack. “Although I lost Coco, I have never been faced with putting a dog to sleep before, though I know my mum and many close friends have. It is one of the most painful experiences and I feel a deep connection to everyone who has gone through the loss of a beloved pet. Although it was so hard, having him was one of the most beautiful parts of life, to love so deeply and to be loved in return.”

He went on to acknowledge his gratitude for Roscoe’s fans. “Thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown Roscoe over the years. It has been so special to witness and feel. He died on Sunday evening, 28th September in my arms.”

Hamilton also shared another post, a video featuring some sweet moments of Roscoe. The caption for this one is a simple “Roscoe forever.” 

The F1 driver adopted Roscoe in 2013, after scanning through thousands of dogs. Since then, Roscoe has become a celebrity in his own right. Roscoe appeared regularly on Hamilton’s social media and even had an Instagram account of his own with over 1 million followers. In 2023, Roscoe was added in the popular video game Fortnite; players could purchase a backpack holding Roscoe for their character. 

Just this past August, Roscoe and Hamilton were featured in Dogue, Vogue’s special digital series focused on dogs and their owners. In the Dogue interview, Hamilton highlighted Roscoe’s expensive taste. “He likes fancy, fancy sneakers,” the driver told the publication. “He picks up my Dior trainers and always takes them with him. He’s so bougie.” 

He also mentioned that when he first thought about getting a dog, his family had doubts about his ability to care for a pet given his busy schedule. “I hate when people say I can’t do something,” he told Vogue. “I like to prove them wrong.”

In addition to his very popular social media presence, Roscoe also made frequent appearances at Formula One races. He often accompanied Hamilton to F1 paddocks around the world, including Italy, Spain, and Belgium. When not with Hamilton, Roscoe was cared for by dog trainer Kirstin McMilan.