The heartbroken mum of Bradley Lowery has asked her late son to "look after granddad" in heaven after her father's death from cancer.
Gemma Lowery from County Durham said she is "heartbroken" after her dad - who was her "hero and rock" - passed away at 9.15pm on Friday night following a short battle with the cruel disease, Chronicle Live reports.
In an emotional tribute, Gemma said the family are taking comfort knowing he's no longer in pain and has been reunited with little Bradley - who died of a rare and aggressive form of cancer in 2017.
The touching post said: "Last night at 9.15pm heaven gained another angel and another piece of my heart has gone.
"My dad, Bradley's grandad [sic], my hero, my rock passed away after a short battle with cancer.
"There are no words to describe how heartbroken we are as a family but we take comfort knowing he is out of pain and is reunited back with Brad. They were inseparable when on earth and I know they will be with each other now.
"I miss you already dad, I will always be your little girl and you will always be my hero. Look after grandad Bradley."
Six-year-old Bradley tragically lost his fight to a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer in 2017 with his parents establishing the Bradley Lowery Foundation in his memory.
His parents, Gemma and Carl Lowery, welcomed their daughter, Gracie-Mae, into the world at 12.19am on Saturday, November 6 last year, via an emergency C section at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
The family enjoyed Gracie's very first Christmas with Gemma admitting it was "bittersweet" as it was her last one with her "amazing" dad.
Early last year, England star Jermain Defoe revealed in an emotional interview that he thinks of Bradley, who became Sunderland FC's mascot, "every day".
The pair met when the young Sunderland fan, ill with neuroblastoma, was a mascot and Defoe was the Black Cats’ star player.
You can find out more about the Bradley Lowery Foundation here.
