Natasha Richardson's son Daniel Neeson posts a heartfelt tribute to mark 15 years since her death in a tragic skiing accident: 'You're beside me every step of the way'

• Actress Natasha died after a skiing accident in Canada in March 2009 aged 45
• READ MORE: Natasha Richardson’s son Micheál reflects on his grief

Natasha Richardson’s son Daniel Neeson has posted a heartfelt tribute to his mother to mark the 15th anniversary of her passing.

Daniel – the son of Natasha and actor Liam Neeson – was 12 when his mother died after a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada on March 18th, 2009.

The 27-year-old now runs a successful tequila brand called DE-NADA, making him one of the few in his family to not pursue a career in the arts – his older brother Micheál Richardson is also an actor, as is his aunt Joely and cousin Daisy Bevan.

Posting to Instagram on Tuesday, Daniel penned an emotional tribute to Natasha, alongside a stunning black-and-white photograph of her taken in 1998.

He wrote: ’15 years since you’ve left this plane onto forever more. I look forward to re uniting one day but for now I take solace in knowing you’re beside me every step of the way.’

Natasha Richardson’s son Daniel Neeson has posted a heartfelt tribute to his mother (pictured in 2008) on to mark 15 years since her passing

Daniel said he hoped he is ‘making her proud’ with his alcohol brand and references a sweet story from when he was growing up, calling Natasha the ‘OG margarita mama!’

He continued: ‘Hopefully, I’m making you proud. I think you would definitely be proud of my margarita skills. She was the OG margarita mama!

‘As a kid, I used to ask her for a sip of hers, and she would gently say not till you’re older. Little did she know I would one day start my own tequila brand and have way too many margaritas at my finger tips.’

He finished his message by talking about his close relationship with his aunt, Natasha’s sister Joely: ‘My aunt, @joelyrichardsonsinsta who always brightens my day, said to me this week that we sometimes forget that we’re on an ever spinning planet.

‘Change is inevitable, and we must embrace it with open arms. If you’re a believer or not in quantum physics, the past, future and present coexist. We’re all interconnected here and over there through love. The greatest life force. choose it above all else.’

Daniel was at home in New York at the time of his mother’s accident, but his brother was by her side when the Tony Award winner fell and hit her head while skiing on the slopes in 2009. Their father Liam was in Toronto filming.

Natasha, who had appeared in Hollywood films such as The Parent Trap and Maid In Manhattan, was taking a beginner’s skiing lesson when the accident happened.

She wasn’t wearing a helmet and had initially said she felt fine before her condition deteriorated back at her hotel an hour later.

Daniel wrote an emotional caption, saying he hopes he is making his mother ‘proud’

Daniel (right, in 2008) – the son of Natasha (centre) and actor Liam Neeson – was just 12 when his mother died after a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada. Pictured left is brother Micheal

Daniel is pictured with his father Liam Neeson (right) and actor Paul Rudd

Liam had rushed to Natasha’s side – but she had not initially said she felt unwell (pictured together in 2006)

Liam rushed to her side, and she was then flown under intensive care to New York where she died two days later in hospital aged 45, with her family, including her mother Vanessa and sister Joely, at her bedside.

A post mortem revealed that Richardson died from bleeding in her skull caused by the fall on a ski slope in Mont Tremblant.

In 2018, her other son Micheal changed his surname to Richardson to honour his late mother and to ‘keep her close’.

Joely posted a tribute of her own to Instagram, posting a photo of a young Natasha with Ethan Hawke, which she said showed her sister’s ‘fun’ and ‘mischievous’ side.

She also revealed that Natasha had once told her she would like ‘to go’ while still ‘at her peak’ – words which hauntingly came true.

Joely said: ‘Richard Eyre said at her memorial “it’s so hard to understand why she’s suddenly gone because she was the most Alive person I’d ever met”.

‘Tash was a great celebrator of other people’s achievements- got so excited and happy for them- had mini Oscar made for Ethan when he got nominated . We went to see ‘moulin Rouge’ ( Baz Luhrmann film) at the Ziegfeld in NY.

‘When we came out she said to me “ if I had to go I’d like it to be like that- at my peak”. Well Tash, you did, 15 years ago today – loved to the hilt ♥️.’

Natasha’s sister, actress Joely Richardson, posted a throwback picture of her together with Ethan Hawke, which she said showed her ‘fun’ and ‘mischievous’ side

Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen also paid tribute to his late friend Natasha, lauding the ‘perfectly marvellous’ actress.

He offered a glimpse at their friendship with photos of them dancing, vacationing, and attending red carpet events together.

The images also featured Richardson’s widower Liam Neeson and friends Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Ralph Fiennes, and Kristen Johnson.

Speaking to the New York Post previously, Daniel said his mother always urged him to follow his dreams.

He said: ‘She was one of my biggest role models. She was always about “don’t ever feel like you have to be forced down a tunnel to fit in. Do what you want to do, but do it to your best and be generous with it,”.’

Daniel, who lives in Manhattan, said he ‘always loved being outside’ and enjoyed hobbies such as fishing, hiking and hockey.

He studied theatre and digital media in college but has never acted professionally. He instead used his education to develop his business talents.

Daniel, pictured with girlfriend Natalie Ackerman, has largely remained out of the limelight – unlike the rest of his famous family

Daniel admitted: ‘I think it’s great that I caught the bug when I was young to do something different [than acting].

‘You have an idea, you work on the skeleton of it and then you present it,’ he explained of his entrepreneurial skills. ‘And when you present it, you [make sure it] relate to people.’

He has been with his long-term marketing professional girlfriend Natalie Ackerman for around six years.

The couple have enjoyed plenty of journeys to the ‘motherland’, Liam’s native Northern Ireland, as well as glamorous holidays to St. Tropez, Prague and Czech Republic.

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