The widow of a police officer killed in the line of duty has paid tribute to him as her "beloved husband", "best friend" and the "most devoted father" to their two young sons.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, died in a collision in the early hours of Saturday (August 22) after a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 dual carriageway crashed into a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle.
Fellow officer PC Tom Clough also died in the incident when their vehicle was hit by the car carrying Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak, who all lost their lives.
'A space that can never be filled'
In an emotional tribute released by Cleveland Police on Sunday evening, his wife said no words could honour the officer, who she said was loved "beyond words" by family and friends and whose death had left "a space that can never be filled".
She said: "No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt, my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys."
"He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle. He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled."
'His greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family'
Describing the father of two, she added that he had dedicated his life to protecting others with "courage, dedication and selflessness", and that while he died serving the public, "his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family".
"He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness. The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade."
"Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always."
"He may have left this world committed to the duty he believed in, but his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family."
She also expressed gratitude to the emergency services and their "police family" for the support they have received, saying: "The kindness, compassion, love and unwavering support we have received as a family has meant more to us than words could ever express. Every message, visit, gesture of support and every person who has stood alongside us will never be forgotten. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad."
