The wife of former Manchester United
and England footballer Rio Ferdinand
has died from cancer.

The QPR defender, 36, released a
statement saying his "wonderful wife and
soul mate" Rebecca Ellison had "passed
away peacefully" at a London hospital.
Ms Ellison, who married Ferdinand in
2009, had breast cancer.

She leaves behind three children,
Lorenz, nine, Tate, six, and four-year-old
Tia.
In a statement, Ferdinand said she died
on Friday night.
"Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed
away peacefully after a short battle with
cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in
London," the 36-year-old said on QPR's
website.
"She was a fantastic loving mother to our
three beautiful children. She will be
missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter
and granddaughter. She will live on in
our memory, as a guide and inspiration.

"Myself, my parents Janice and Julian,
along with Rebecca's parents Lesley and
Stephen, would like to thank our
families, friends and my club colleagues
who have rallied around in these
desperate days, weeks and months."

www.bbc.com/news/world-32563022

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