Tom Parker has died at the age of 33.
The Wanted singer sadly passed away on Wednesday after a battle with terminal brain cancer glioblastoma.
His beloved wife Kelsey confirmed the tragic news in a heartbreaking statement.
Kelsey wrote on Instagram: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side.
"Our hearts are broken.
"Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence.
"We are truly thankful for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we all unite to ensure Tom’s light continues to shine for his beautiful children.
"Thank you to everyone who has supported in his care throughout, he fought until the very end. I’m forever proud of you."
The singer was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour while his wife Kelsey was pregnant with their second child.
Following the news of Tom's devastating passing, his bandmates have released a heartbreaking statement as they described the dad-of-two as their 'brother'.
A tribute posted to the band's official social media pages read: "Max, Jay, Siva, Nathan and the whole Wanted family are devastated by the tragic and premature loss of our bandmate Tom Parker, who passed away peacefully at lunchtime today surrounded by his family and his band mates.
"Tom was an amazing husband to Kelsey, and father to Aurelia and Bodhi. He was our brother, words can’t express the loss and sadness we feel.
"Always and forever in our hearts."
The dad-of-two previously told OK! Magazine how his diagnosis didn’t feel real, explaining: "I knew something wasn’t right, but I never expected it to be this. You never think this will happen to you."
Recently, Tom had become so weak he needed to use a wheelchair.
Tom spent a whole week in a private hospital in the hope to become fit enough for his band's comeback shows.
He jetted off for treatment after previously saying how shocked he was by the lack of help and funding for cancer patients in the UK.
He hoped the revolutionary £4,000 a week treatment in Spain could swings things in his favour.
However, Tom lost his battle on Wednesday.
While he was out on tour with his bandmates in recent weeks, his friend Max George heaped praise on him as he shared a snap of Tom in his chair.
“I mean… Come on,” Max had captioned the image, adding a heart eyes emoji to express his admiration for his pal.
Tom’s strength deteriorated to the point he needed the chair not long after he had joined his bandmates on stage during their reunion tour.
Tom had missed some of the shows after having to extend his stay at a specialist clinic in Spain.
After returning to the UK, Tom left fans delighted when he joined Max, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran, and Jay McGuinness on stage, sitting on a throne.
Tom's final appearance came just three weeks ago when he sang on stage alongside his 'brothers' and bandmates.
The boyband star had announced the news of his prognosis on Instagram to fans ahead of his son’s birth in 2020.
Sharing a sweet snap of himself with his then-pregnant wife and young daughter, he penned: "Hey guys, you know that we’ve both been quiet on social media for a few weeks and it’s time to tell you why.
"There’s no easy way to say this but I’ve sadly been diagnosed with a Brain Tumour and I’m already undergoing treatment.
“We decided, after a lot of thought, that rather than hiding away and trying to keep it a secret, we would do one interview where we could lay out all the details and let everyone know the facts in our own way.”
Tom vowed at the time to fight his cancer while having chemotherapy and radio therapy in the UK to prolong his life.
"We are all absolutely devastated but we are gonna fight this all the way,” Tom vowed.
“We don’t want your sadness, we just want love and positivity and together we will raise awareness of this terrible disease and look for all available treatment options.
“It’s gonna be a tough battle but with everyone’s love and support we are going to beat this.”
Following the heartbreaking news of Tom's passing, tributes have poured in for the remarkable young star.
BBC Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts, who revealed in January that she had been treated for bowel cancer, said Parker was 'such a hero and an inspiration to me'.
The star wrote onTwitter: "He was so strong. Rest In Power Tom and thank you for everything you did."
Meanwhile, TV presenter Gaby Roslin said he was 'so brave and such a lovely man'.
Rylan Clark said it was 'absolutely gutting' news.
"He was such a good'un. So sad to hear. Sending my love to Kelsey and the kids," the former X Factor star wrote.
Tom bandmate Siva Kaneswaran wrote on Instagram: “Hey Tom, hope you’re having a blast up there.
“I am so grateful that I had a chance to witness your true courage. It has been a pleasure of my life Tommy Boy. Thank you for letting us see you light up the world. Talk to you soon and see you later. Love you brother x”
English actor and musician Martin Kemp has paid tribute to Tom, saying his “spirit will never be forgotten” following The Wanted star’s death at 33.
Kemp wrote in a tweet: “Tom Parker, rest in peace my love goes out to all your family and all your friends.. your bravery, your fight and your spirit will never be forgotten”.
Elsewhere, singer Joe McElderry shared his sympathies with Tom's grieving family.
The former X Factor singer tweeted: "So very very sad :( life can be cruel! My thoughts to his family and friends."
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Baga Chipz has paid tribute to Tom following his death from an inoperable brain tumour aged 33.
She wrote: “R.I.P Tom Parker. 33 is no age. Sending love to Kelsey, your family, friends, the band and all of your fans.”
The Vamps’ Connor Ball has also tweeted following Tom's passing.
Ball wrote: “33 is far too young, so much sadness, Rest in peace Tom Parker”
In recent months, Tom's beloved wife Kelsey revealed how she’d begged doctors not to tell Tom how long he has to live over fears he would count down the days.
She explained how she didn't want to know how long doctors predicted he would survive, saying: "We didn't ask for one [a prognosis].
“I said that for Tom's state of mind, and who he is as a person, that would not be good for him. He would literally sit here and count down the days and not live his life."
"I’d be like, 'Day one, done'," Tom admitted.
His loving wife added: "We're not thinking like that. No one can define you by that.
“Tom went to the hospital with his brother before because I couldn't go, and I said to his brother, 'Don’t let them tell him', and his brother said he was fishing for an answer.
“I’m in groups with people going through the same thing, and they said there are people who were told they had three months to live and they're still going five years later."
Tom and Kelsey got married in 2018 and they welcomed daughter Aurelia in 2019 and found out in May 2020 they were expecting their second child together, with little Bodhi born in 2020.
Tom and Kelsey’s love story goes back to when they first crossed paths in a nightclub in 2009.
Later that year, Tom found fame with The Wanted and a legion of female fans, but their relationship went from strength to strength.
The band released their self-titled debut album in 2010 and went on to enjoy several hits including UK chart-topping singles All Time Low and Glad You Came.
In 2014, The Wanted announced they were taking some time apart so that each member could pursue personal endeavours.
Before their split, The Wanted had amassed worldwide success, including two UK number one singles and nine top-10 singles, as well as four billboard 100 singles, selling over 900,000 records, three platinum albums and two sold-out arena tours.
But it all started going badly wrong when they agreed to take part in their own reality show. Suddenly, Team Wanted became every man for himself.
In 2013, they starred in their own reality show for the E! network called The Wanted Life.
Produced by Ryan Seacrest - the US producer behind TV's Keeping Up With The Kardashians - and set in the Hollywood Hills, The Wanted Life followed the band as they made their third studio album titled Word Of Mouth.
Tom’s bandmates revealed they “regretted” making the show as “everyone showed their true colours,” and relationships turned sour.
The lads put aside their differences when Tom received his prognosis, however.
The band rallied around the Bolton-raised musician in his final years.
Tom leaves behind his wife Kelsey and their two young children.
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