A man who complained of a stomach ache just weeks ago has tragically died aged just 57 after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Martial arts instructor David Tuff's sudden death came just weeks after he went to his doctor complaining of stomach pain and tiredness.
David, who has an 11-year-old son, had bowel cancer, which had already spread to his liver.
His wife Kate, who he married in 2011, said: "It was just so quick and the decline was so rapid.
"He hadn't really shown any signs of illness and then four weeks later, we lost him. It's been horrific. He didn't have time himself to process what was happening.
"But he was so strong. To sit down and tell our son that chemo wasn't an option and we didn't know how long he had left, it was awful.
"The day before he died he let out his anger. He said that it was wrong and that he must have done something wrong to deserve that, but apart from that he stayed strong for Dan and I.
"But his bond with Daniel, their relationship was second to none."
David was first introduced to the world of jiu-jitsu as a teenager after he and a group of friends were attacked.
Kate told Grimsby Live: "As a teenager, he and a group of friends were attacked and I think his parents thought then, 'Right, we need to get him into something where he can protect and defend himself'.
"His jiu-jitsu was a major part of his life since being a teenager and Daniel has followed in his footsteps. He was a major asset to the jiu-jitsu world."
Over the years, David worked his way up to a black belt and has instructed hundreds of students in the area at the Katho Ryo Club, initially at Grimsby Leisure Centre and at the Comma Dojo Club in Immingham from 2014 onwards, where he trained twice a week.
David worked as a bricklayer since he left college and worked for Hillen Projects in Caistor shortly before his death.
In his spare time, as well as jiu-jitsu, he also enjoyed travelling to the Lake District with Kate and Daniel, as well as visiting family in Ireland. He enjoyed cooking and cycling and had a passion for classic cars and rock music.
Kate added: "He had a really strong work ethic and he was very dedicated to his family, he was so family-oriented. He was gentle and quiet-natured, but very physically strong and mentally strong. Dave never rated himself, but his knowledge of the world and politics was amazing.
"He worked so hard for everything he achieved and there's so much he wanted to do with Daniel. As a father, he was second to none. We were soulmates, but he and Daniel were inseparable."
"He was just amazing," Daniel said.
.png?w=600)
