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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Natalie Corner

Dog the Bounty Hunter hosts touching Hawaiian memorial for wife Beth Chapman

Dog the Bounty Hunter hosted a memorial in Hawaii in honour of his wife Beth Chapman who passed away on Wednesday.

Dog - whose real name is Duane Chapman - announced his wife Beth, 51, had lost her battle with throat cancer in a poignant tweet with his followers.

It was then announced by her that they would say their goodbyes in a traditional Hawaiian memorial service in keeping with her wishes.

Dog, 66, was flanked by family, friends and loved ones as he arrived at Fort DeRussy Beach in Waikiki, the island that Beth considered her second home, on Saturday 29 June.

They gathered on the beach where they chanted, prayed and Dog made a statement about his wife before they held a 'paddle out' where they placed wreaths in the ocean in honour of Beth.

Dog the Bounty Hunter was joined by family and loved ones at Fort DeRussy beach park where Beth wished to hold a memorial (Flightrisk / BACKGRID)
The paddle out involves mourners heading out to sea to place wreaths in the ocean (Flightrisk / BACKGRID)

The TV star had broken the sad news that his wife had passed away at a hospital in Honolulu after a two year battle with cancer, on Twitter writing: "It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain.

"Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side."

He arrived at Beth's favourite spot along with dozens of mourners where he made a statement and prayed with the family.

They held a traditional Hawaiian 'Oli chant followed the paddle out, which is a ceremony normally for surfers who passed away, but has since being adopted elsewhere.

Duane 'Dog' Chapman addressed the crowd before holding a prayer in honour of his wife Beth (SplashNews.com)
Mourners gathered around as they held a traditional Hawaiian chant (Flightrisk / BACKGRID)

It was carried out for Beth who had asked to be remembered this way before her death, as well as a funeral in Colorado, where she lived with Dog.

The group then headed out on canoes and flotation devices where they each took a moment to reflect on Beth and spread loose flowers in the water.

Beth's family are believed to be cremating her body and scattering her ashes in an unknown location.

TMZ reported that Beth had discussed her memorial plans ahead of her death as she battled cancer, with sources saying her family would honour Beth's wishes.

Beth had asked to be memorialised at Fort DeRussy beach which was her 'second home' (Flightrisk / BACKGRID)
The couple had been married for 13 years and shared two children (Getty Images)

In a statement ahead of the Hawaiian Dog said: "Beth had two homes, Hawaii and Colorado. 'I love Hawaii the most,' she said, so she will be sent off in true Hawaiian style, with aloha."

They had asked for members of the public to join them for the service and share any photos and videos they had of Beth with the tag '#alohaoemrsdog'.

Speaking alongside her father Duane, Lyssa said: "We would like to do some sort of water paddle out, we know that for sure.

"It actually makes us feel, you know, warm, to know how much our mother was loved," she added.

The public were invited to join Dog and Beth's family and loved ones (Wendell Wall / SplashNews.com)
Mourners threw flowers into the sea in honour of Beth (Flightrisk / BACKGRID)

Beth's family were by on side on Wednesday as she slipped away days after doctors placed her in a medically induced coma.

The proud great-grandma, whose real name is Alice Elizabeth, was diagnosed with stage II throat cancer in 2017, but was cancer free by December of that year.

Last year the cancer returned and Beth underwent aggressive chemotherapy to treat it.

Beth lost her battle with throat cancer after it returned in December (SplashNews.com)

In January Dog The Bounty Hunter revealed the devastating news that Beth's cancer was 'incurable'.

This month Beth was placed in a medical-induced coma in Hawaii with sources claiming she was having trouble breathing.

Her family rushed to be by her side and on Monday, Dog tweeted a snap of Beth's manicured hand from her hospital bed.

On Wednesday he told his Twitter followers that Beth had 'hiked the stairway to heaven' and he'd see her on the other side.

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