Lewis Hamilton has been left heartbroken at the death of his beloved bulldog, Coco.

The Formula 1 ace took to Instagram on Friday to reveal the upsetting news, and thanked his family and friends for loving and caring for her.

In a lengthy post, the racing driver, 34, said he was ‘lucky’ to have had Coco for so long as she suffered with various health problems.

Upsetting: Lewis Hamilton has been left heartbroken at the death of his beloved bulldog, Coco. The Formula 1 ace took to Instagram on Friday to reveal the upsetting news

Lewis began by explaining Coco had died at home, despite his attempts to revive her.

He penned: ‘Last night at around 9pm, my beautiful little girl Coco died at home with the family by her side.

‘Her little heart gave in, we think it was a heart attack. I tried to revive her but it was no use.’

Sad loss: In a lengthy post, the racing driver, 34, said he was ‘lucky’ to have had Coco for so long as she suffered with various health problems

Recalling their final moments, he continued: ‘She’d had the best day, happier than I’d seen her in a long time. She was such a special dog, born with so many problems and I feel so lucky to have adopted her.

‘Her breeder said she was going to have to put her down as she wouldn’t be able to afford all the things she would need to survive, she went through a lot to become the bouncy, lazy loving dog she was.

‘On her last day, we shared a special moment playing together which I will never forget. I will miss her snoring and how happy she was always to see me. She was only 6, healthy and happy.’

Upsetting: Lewis began by explaining Coco had died at home, despite his attempts to revive her, after suffering what appeared to be a heart attack

Troubles: Recalling their final moments, he continued: ‘She’d had the best day, happier than I’d seen her in a long time. She was such a special dog, born with so many problems’

Lewis concluded by admitting he hopes his late aunt Diane, who died from cancer in 2012, would be looking after his dog now.

He wrote: ‘Naturally, my heart is broken but i hope she’s in a better place with my Aunty Diane.

‘Wanted to share with you and thank those of you who loved and cared for her. #coco #restinpeace [sic]’.

Loss: Lewis concluded by admitting he hopes his late aunt Diane, who died from cancer in 2012, would be looking after his dog now

Lewis has another bulldog named Roscoe, and the driver would often fly his dogs around the world with him in a private jet so that they wouldn’t have to be separated.

The star set up a joint Instagram page for his pet pooches, which has amassed more than 176,000 followers.

Roscoe – whose parents are both champion show dogs – has become a model, with Lewis revealing the pooch earns $700 for a shoot.

Roscoe is so important to the F1 legend he has had his sperm frozen so after retirement he can use a breeder to get more puppies.

Sweet: Lewis has another bulldog named Roscoe, and the driver would often fly his dogs around the world with him in a private jet so that they wouldn’t have to be separated

British bulldogs are often riddled with painful diseases and deformities, with vets warning that centuries of inbreeding have made it one of the unhealthiest breeds in the world.

The breed now has a head so out of proportion with its body that almost all births have to be done by C-section.

Natural mating is also difficult, leading to claims that the breed would not exist today if it were not for vets’ assistance.

The catalogue of health problems also includes breathing difficulties, hip abnormalities, cataracts, heart defects and autoimmune diseases.