HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a young Wrexham man following his tragic sudden death.
David Samuel, aged 20, died on Friday, March 17, and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
David lived in Rhosnesni and is said to have been a "beautiful person, inside and out".
Much-loved son of Tracy Samuel, David also had two younger siblings, Kai-McKenzie and Alexis, and an older brother, Tom. He was also very close to his cousin, Courtney, whom he saw as his sister.
A heartbroken Tracy paid a touching tribute to him.
"David was a larger than life character," she said.
"He lit up every room he was in, he'd give everyone the biggest bear hug you'd ever had. He'd make time for everyone.
"Everything he did he did for others, not himself. If he went past a homeless person, he'd always give them money - even if it was his last 10p. That's just the sort of person he was.
"David was a beautiful person inside and out. He was my rock, my sidekick, my world - my everything."
David was a huge Liverpool FC fan, and Tracy fondly remembers when she bought surprise tickets for him to attend his first match at Anfield.
She said: "I went to a charity auction at Llay British Legion - and I had to tell David that I was going to a lady's night otherwise he'd have come with me, we were joined at the hip.
"The way his eyes lit up when I told him I'd bought tickets for the Liverpool and Southampton game will stay with me forever."
David was also hugely fond of bingo, and attended every week at the Gate Hangs High pub in Rhosnesni.
Jayne Schendel, the pub's landlady, said: "I first met David when he was about 12 - he started coming with his mum to the bingo.
"At first he was very quiet, and I tried to get him more involved - so I asked him to check the bingo lines.
"After he came out of his shell, he quickly become one of the most popular people at the pub. He was such a lovely person, a rare ray of sunshine. His death has shocked us all.
"Bingo nights will never be the same without David - he will be sorely missed by us all."
David was a massive Wrexham AFC fan as well - and is said to have "absolutely loved" attending games at the Racecourse.
He'd also love going fishing with his brother, Tom and was a huge music fan. He attended the Elton John concert at Anfield last summer with Tracy.
David, who had epilepsy and Asperger’s syndrome, attended Aspris College North Wales in Wrexham and hoped to become a bricklayer.
Carla Owen, interim college manager at Aspris College, paid tribute to him.
She said: "David was a very well thought of student. He brought life and laughter into college and was highly thought of by us all.
"We will miss his banter, cheeky smile and his larger-than-life personality.
"Our thoughts go out to his family at this sad time. David will be sadly missed by staff and students."
Tracy said that David's loss has left a "gaping hole" in her life.
"It was a privilege to call him my son for 20 years," she added.
Tracy said she has been inundated with messages of condolences.
"I knew David was popular, but I had no idea it was to this extent," she said.
"It's been so incredibly touching to know just how loved he was by so many people."
Tracy has thanked Jane Lloyd, who has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of David's funeral. It has so far raised over £300. To donate to it, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/david-samuel.
She has also thanked everybody for their kindness and support, and made special mentions to Becky Hughes, Shauna Jarvis, Lisa Rowlands, Mandy Parry and David's auntie Sue and uncle Paul.
David's funeral will be held at Pentrebychan Crematorium on April 21. A wake will follow at the Wrexham and District War Memorial Club.
People are encouraged to wear red, the colour of David's beloved Liverpool and Wrexham football clubs.
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