Family and friends have paid tribute to a 'caring and funny' 31-year-old dad who died of throat cancer.
Daniel Smith, who worked at the University Boulevard Co-op in Beeston, died on April 2, just two months after being diagnosed.
His wife, Sam, 32, said he was a devoted father to their five children - Tommy 12, Mason, nine, Josh, seven, Olly, four and Bella, three.
She said: "He was lovely and caring. He would do anything for anyone. He loved his children so much and when he was not at work he was devoted to family time.
"He has always had a few issues with his throat and more recently he was struggling to swallow. Some days it would be so bad that he wouldn't want to eat and other days it would be absolutely fine.
"It wasn't until after Christmas that he decided to go to the doctors about it and in February we were told it was cancer.
"We hadn't even been able to process that it was cancer before we were told that it had spread and there was nothing doctors could do.
"He remained very optimistic throughout and he always had the mind set that he was going to fight it."
On March 28, doctors delivered the devastating news to Sam that Daniel might not make it through the night.
So, the couple, who had been engaged since 2010, decided to get married at the Royal Derby Hospital where he was being treated.
The couple met when they were at school together in Swadlincote.
She said: "He didn't want to go out of this world an unmarried man when that is all he wanted for the last nine years.
"We always had the mind set that we would put the kids first and our time would come eventually."
After the wedding, Daniel was taken back to his home in Swadlincote where he passed away on April 2.
He had been a manager at the Co-op in University Boulevard since the store opened in September 2018.
He had worked in Co-ops across the region for the last 10 years.
His co-workers have now decided to raise money for his family following his sudden death.
A spokeswoman for the store said: "Dan worked for the Co-op for 10 years working in four stores, leaving his lasting impression on all whom he worked with.
"He had a brilliant personality. He was a hard worker but he also had time for a laugh and a joke. He loved going to the gym and he was a big guy but inside he was a pussy cat.
"Dan will be forever in our hearts and minds. Dan was a special guy and as colleagues we want to do everything we can do to help Dan's family at this tragic time."
A fundraising page has been set up to help support Dan's family. You can donate here.
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