The family of John Atkinson, who lost his life in the Manchester Arena bombing, today told the public inquiry into the atrocity his death had 'torn' their lives apart.
"He was the centre of our world," John's mum, Daryl Price, and step-dad Kevan said.
"We can't even explain how much we love and miss John."
The inquiry began its fourth day in Manchester today with the start of a two-week period of 'commemorative hearings'.
Pen portraits from the families and friends of the deceased, and moving personal evidence about them, will be heard and shown to the inquiry.
Tributes to John were delivered after the families of victims Martyn Hett, 29, and Eilidh MacLeod, 14, provided moving testimonies to the inquiry.
John was 28 and from Radcliffe, Bury.
He worked as a healthcare assistant and leaves three sisters.
The family's legal representatives read out statements on behalf of the family, as a video showing photographs of John played in the background.
His mum and step-dad said: "John had a massively addictive personality, and would help anyone.
"He worked with young adults with autism and behavioural difficulties.
"He loved his job and the clients he worked with."
They said John was a keep fit fanatic and won a 'Man of the Year' award at Slimming World.
He had a Mensa IQ of 137 at the age of eight - and was described by them as 'hugely intelligent'.
John had also made his mind up that he wanted to foster, they said in the statement.
"John's smile would light the room up whenever he came through the door," they said.
"He loved everyone and everyone loved him."
They said his death had 'torn' their lives apart.
"He was the centre of our world," they said.
"We can't even explain how much we love and miss John."
John's sister, Amy, said that some days, it was 'hard to think of anything else'.
"John was always there when I needed him," she said.
"What I miss the most is always having him there.
"He was never far away, ever."
John's older sister, Laura, said there were no words to express how much she misses him.
"I will never, ever meet anyone like him ever again," she said.
Laura said John was like a 'whirlwind' growing up and was also a doting uncle.
"Never did I imagine not carrying on the rest of our lives together," she said.
"It hurts so much.
"It's like a big hit in the stomach when you struggle to breathe."
John's sister, Stacey, also provided a statement.
She said: "John was the heart and soul of the family. The family will never be the same again.
"My brother is special in so many ways, too many to write down.
"Those memories I will cherish in my heart forever."
John's cousins, Tina and Danny, provided statements in which they spoke of John's 'big cheeky smile' and 'contagious laugh'.
"The feeling of emptiness and the dreaded gut feeling that something is missing from our lives will stay with us forever," they said.
"Life is so unfair. I miss you so much, cuz, from your heartbroken cousins."
The attack on May 22, 2017, after an Ariana Grande concert, claimed 22 lives and left hundreds more injured.
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a rucksack bomb in the City Room area of the Arena after the concert had finished.
Hashem Abedi, his brother, is currently serving a 55-year minimum sentence after being convicted over the atrocity.
The public inquiry - set to run until next spring - is examining all aspects of the bombing.
