Former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, the son of US
Vice-President Joe Biden, has died of brain cancer.
The 46-year-old was hospitalised earlier this month at the
Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, near Washington.
Beau Biden was seen as a rising star of US politics but
suffered health problems in recent years. He had intended to
run for Delaware state governor in 2016.
"The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words", the vice-
president said.
In a statement, President Barack Obama said: "Michelle
[Obama] and I are grieving tonight."
"Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply
faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he
touched - and he lives on in their hearts."
In a Twitter post, former President Bill Clinton wrote: "Hillary
& I mourn the loss of Beau Biden - so full of life, love, honor,
and service - and we pray for the strength of his wonderful
family."
'Spirit will live on'
Beau Biden was diagnosed with brain cancer in August 2013
and underwent treatment that was initially successful.
However, the cancer recurred earlier this year and Mr Biden
was hospitalised earlier this month.
Announcing the death in a statement, the vice-president said:
"It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I
announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau,
after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage
and strength he demonstrated every day of his life."
"Beau embodied my father's saying that a parent knows
success when his child turns out better than he did," he said,
adding: "We know that Beau's spirit will live on in all of us."
"Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have
ever known," the statement ended.
In 2010, Beau Biden suffered a mild stroke. Three years later,
he received surgery at a Texas cancer centre for what was
said to be a small lesion.
The eldest of Mr Biden's two sons, he served a year-long tour
Iraq in 2008 as a captain in the Delaware National Guard.
As a child, Beau survived a car crash that killed his mother
Neilia and his baby sister Naomi in 1972. He and his brother
Hunter were injured.
Joe Biden had just been elected to the Senate, and took his
oath of office by his son's hospital bed.
Joe Biden married Jill Jacobs in 1977. They have one
daughter - Ashley Blazer.
Beau Biden is survived by his wife Hallie and their two
children, Natalie and Hunter.
CREDITS:BBC NEWS

I used to watch this young man on fox news prior to Obama initial presidential campaign tour, he was very calm and knowing them he was a guard in Delaware national guard I was really impressed.
Well to the Biden's we all lost a charming personality. Adieu Beau

sad