Ed Sheeran pays tribute to Melody Driscoll, 11, who's lost fight for life as devastated parents say 'we'll never see her smile again'
The video will start in 8 Cancel
Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe See our privacy notice Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Ed Sheeran has paid tribute to superfan Melody Driscoll after the 11-year-old schoolgirl passed away in her parents' arms.
The singer posted 'rest in peace beautiful' alongside a picture of the brave girl who passed away after a long battle with debilitating medical conditions.
Her parents said they were "devastated they'll never see that smile again" after her death King's College Hospital.
Melody fought rare Rett Syndrome, which caused severe physical and mental disability.
Her devoted mum Karina Driscoll and step-dad Nigel told Croydon Advertiser they have been left "broken" by the loss of the young girl's "little spark".
Karina, 35, said: "Her heart kept beating right to the end. She loved life, she was a living angel.
"Even in her worst pain she would smile.
(Image: SWNS.com)
(Image: Croydon Advertiser)
"She was the most amazing and beautiful little girl that there could ever be."
The distraught mum-to-five, of Croydon, south London, added: "My heart is just broken that she has been taken away from me, I would give anything to get her back.
"Everyone that saw her smile fell in love with her.
"To know that we are never going to see that smile again has just broken us.
(Image: Melody in mind)
(Image: Sunday Mirror)
(Image: Collect Unknown)
(Image: Croydon Advertiser)
"I was sat outside [on Tuesday] and a white feather flew down, I thought it was an angel coming to look after her, not take her away. But she was gone that night.
"She started going cold. I thought if I just put my body on her and warmed her up she will come back to us, but it didn’t work.
"I can’t bear the thought of not seeing her smile again."
Sheeran, whom Melody admired and met earlier this year, paid tribute to the youngster on Instagram today.
Heartbroken Nigel, 47, said: "Melody's heart was the strongest, we said that if her heart stops then that’s her way of telling us she had had enough."
"She opened her eyes and looked at us," he said.
"She was trying to talk to us, her mouth was moving.
"She was trying to say goodbye.
"She has changed my life forever. I wish I was half as strong as Melody."
(Image: Croydon Advertiser)
(Image: CroydonAdvertiser/ WS)
(Image: Sunday Mirror)
Melody's family had been in a bitter dispute with King's College Hospital over her treatment.
Her several complex illnesses left her on painkillers but doctors wanted to wean her off these.
Doctors gave the inspirational youngster just a few years to live when she was born.