Former Coventry City player and Ex on the Beach star's emotional tribute to baby daughter - The Coventry Observer

Former Coventry City player and Ex on the Beach star's emotional tribute to baby daughter

Coventry Editorial 27th Apr, 2021   0

‘REST In Paradise Princess’: Former Coventry City player Ashley Cain and girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee posted moving tributes to their baby daughter on Instagram announcing she had died.

Azaylia was eight-months-old and diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia  – a “rare and aggressive” form of cancer – at eight weeks.

The family had launched an appeal on GoFundMe to help pay for specialist treatment in Singapore raising more than £1.6m.

But 30-year-old Ex on the Beach star Ashley told his Instagram followers last month that Azaylia had become too ill for the treatment.




In posts on Sunday April 25 announcing her death, Ashley and Safiyya each shared photos of themselves hugging their daughter.

Ashley wrote: “Rest in Paradise Princess. I will always hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven.”


On her Instagram page Safiyya posted: “You are my Angel my heartbeat my soul, RIP my precious baby, you will always be with me like a handprint on my heart.”

The couple have been inundated with messages of condolence including one from Manchester City player Raheem Sterling, who wrote: “Prayers and thoughts for you guys. May that Angel finally get the peace she deserves.”

Alesha Dixon and Stacey Soloman also posted sympathy messages. TV presenter Stacey, a mum-of-three, wrote: “I’m so sorry. You are incredible parents. Sending strength and love to you and your family. Heaven just gained such a strong incredible angel.”

Former Mis-Teeq singer, Alesha, a judge on Strictly and Britain’s Got Talent, said:  “I am so so sorry for your loss, sending you so much love, rest in peace beautiful Azaylia.”

Consultants had previously told Ashley and his partner Safiyya that Azaylia needed a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

At the time Ashley said: “Due to Azaylia’s dual heritage, we were told we had very little chance of finding one in time. After a social media campaign to raise awareness for the importance of registering as a donor, we were absolutely thrilled to find one.

“Not only had we found a donor for our precious baby but we also delivered over 80,000 new registrations in just one weekend – more than any of the donor charities had received in the past 12 months!”

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