Vinnie Jones pictured for final time hand-in-hand with wife Tanya before her cancer death aged 53 – as Gary Lineker leads tributes
A HEARTBREAKING photo shows Vinnie Jones walking hand-in-hand with his wife Tanya before her tragic death from cancer, aged 53.
The couple were spotted leaving a pharmacy in Los Angeles together last year as Tanya fought a six-year long battle against her illness.
She passed away with Vinnie and their children by her side at their home in LA yesterday, after her condition worsened, a spokesman confirmed.
Tributes from celebrities and former footballers have flooded in with Gary Lineker among those paying his respects.
He wrote on Twitter: “How terribly sad. Condolences to Vinnie Jones and family.”
CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
British boxing legend Frank Bruno posted: “I’m very saddened to hear the news of Vinnie Jones wife Tanaya passing away. My thoughts are with Vinnie & his family at this difficult time.”
While Lord Sugar wrote: “Sorry for your loss Vinny.”
Piers Morgan wrote: "Such desperately sad news that Tanya Jones has lost her long battle against cancer, aged just 53.
'She was a delightful woman, and a truly courageous fighter.
"My deepest condolences to Vinnie @VinnieJones65 & all the family. RIP Tanya."
Hollywood action star Vinnie’s spokesman told The Sun: “At 8.46am local time in Los Angeles on Saturday July 6, Vinnie Jones‘ wife, Tanya Jones, passed away after a long illness.
“Tanya passed peacefully at the Jones family home surrounded by Vinnie, their daughter and other family members.
“Vinnie and the family ask for privacy while they go through an understandable period of mourning during this devastating time.”
A source said her condition had worsened over the last few weeks.
In 2013 Vinnie revealed they were both suffering from melanoma – the most serious type of skin cancer.
Tanya - who had an emergency heart transplant at the age of 21 – had already been treated twice for cervical cancer.
Vinnie had found a lump under his eye, and a check-up revealed it was malignant melanoma.
Then Tanya developed the same illness. They fought it together, as a couple, and successfully.
A source said last night: “Tanya had been ill for quite a while.
“But the last two or three weeks her condition really deteriorated.
“Vinnie has been by her bedside. It’s heartbreaking news.
“I think Vinnie had been in the UK at some point and then flew back straight away when he heard.
“It had been a waiting game for them – but she was not going to get better.”
Jones and Tanya married in Watford in 1994.
They moved to Los Angeles where he pursued a successful acting career.
In 1998, he made his film debut in Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – in which he played a mob enforcer.
Jones also appeared in Mean Machine in 2001 and in 2006 acted in X-Men: The Last Stand.
He went on to co-star alongside Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action thriller Escape Plan which was released in 2013.
Previously he earned a reputation as a hardman in his footballing career and was a member of the “Crazy Gang” at Wimbledon.
He won the 1988 FA Cup Final with the club which he played well over 200 games for.
The footie ace also had spells at Chelsea, Leeds United, Sheffield United and Queen’s Park Rangers.
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