The mother of a devoted Cardiff City fan who died at the age of 22 has paid an emotional tribute to her son, describing him as a 'gentle giant' who lived for the Bluebirds.
Caroline Rawlinson has spoken of the 'beautiful memories' she will treasure after the death of Ryan Henricksen on May 25. The 22-year-old's passing has left a never-ending void in the hearts of his family and friends, with tributes continuing to pour in from across the Bluebirds community.
Ryan, who lived with his mother Caroline, auntie Sandra and their dog Herman, was at the centre of a close-knit family. His provisional cause of death is still pending further investigation.
Speaking about her son, Caroline described Ryan as a massive Cardiff City supporter whose gentle nature made him impossible not to love. 'He was a massive Cardiff City supporter, a gentle giant,' she said. 'A big, big cuddly, lovely, lovely soul.'
The pair shared an unbreakable bond, travelling the world together. 'He took me on holidays. We went to Berlin, New York - so many beautiful memories,' she said emotionally. 'We have never been apart. The longest we have ever been apart was for seven days when I went on a cruise. It has always been me and my boy.'
As she grieves, Caroline is also facing the difficult practicalities of losing a loved one. 'I actually tried to shut his bank accounts and stuff yesterday - it's a lot. I have been awful,' she said.
Friends have also shared heartfelt tributes, with a fundraising page set up to support the family describing Ryan as 'one of the kindest, most caring and genuine people you could ever meet'. The page, established by close friends Christopher, Charlie, Pitch and Mattèo, who called themselves Ryan's 'Bluebird brothers', aims to help with funeral and memorial expenses.
The tribute continues: 'He had an incredible ability to make people smile, bring people together, and always put others before himself. To us, Ryan was more than just a friend – he was family.'
Ryan's friends added: 'Ryan will forever remain in our hearts, our memories, and the Bluebird family. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, and he will never be forgotten.'
