Kelsey Parker has been sharing tributes being paid to her husband Tom following his death, aged 33. The Wanted star's death comes after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour - stage four glioblastoma - in October 2020.
Tom's diagnosis came shortly before he and his wife Kelsey, who married in July 2018, welcomed their second child, a son named Bodhi. They also have a daughter Aurelia who they welcomed in July 2019.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side," Kelsey Parker said in an Instagram post on Wednesday (March 30). "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 mum-of-two has since been sharing messages of support and tribute to her husband who announced the news of his diagnosis on Instagram to fans ahead of his son’s birth in 2020.
Kelsey shared a message from Michelle Keegan as she shared Kelsey's post to her millions of followers. The former Coronation Street actress said: "Absolutely heartbroken for Kelsey, his beautiful babies, family and everyone who knew Tom.
"What a truly special guy. Such an honour to have known him and witness first hand their love, they really are the true definition of soulmates." Michelle then added: "Gone far too soon, rest peacefully Tom. @being_kelsey think of you always."
Kelsey then reshared the message to her own page and said: "Love you. You knew how our love was so pure and honest. Soul mates until the end."
She also shared another message from blogger S teph Elswood who shared multiple pictures of herself alongside Tom as well as videos form their time spent together and voice notes between the pair, in which Tom told her she had 'showed the girl up behind her' with her moves and encouraged her to dance more often.
"This is... Tom Parker everyone... he changed so many lives in such a small amount of time," Kelsey wrote alongside Steph's post. "Tom Parker I F**KING love you. Such a legend. Just the fact he would send messages like this... I mean can you imagine the messages I got.
Tom, from Bolton, vowed to fight his cancer while having chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the UK to prolong his life.
He recently had an extended stay at a specialist clinic in Spain and after returning to the UK, Tom joined his The Wanted bandmates Max George, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran, and Jay McGuinness on stage, sitting on a throne, at the end of a string of their arena shows on stage at the AO Arena just a matter of weeks ago.
The band shared an emotional statement on social media following the news of Tom's death. It 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. Tom Parker 1988-2022."
The band scored two number one singles and a string of top 10 hits and albums after forming in 2009. They took an indefinite hiatus in 2014 but delighted fans by announcing in September that they were reforming. They performed together for the first time in seven years at London's Royal Albert Hall for Stand Up To Cancer and The National Brain Appeal.
