HEARTFELT tributes have poured in to an “amazing” son who had a “big heart” and was “loved by everyone he knew”.

Penny Bibby has described her son Ollie as the “bravest person you would ever meet” after his fight with cancer.

In 2016, Ollie, from Benfleet, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a cancer of the white blood cells.

He entered remission for four years before relapsing in July last year.

Ollie had a bone marrow transplant in August 2020 but began feeling unwell around Christmas.

He was then diagnosed with graft versus host disease after bone marrow cells started attacking his body.

Penny said losing Ollie has left the “biggest hole in our family”.

She added: “He really was amazing. We were best friends.

“We all miss him so much. We’re all devastated.

“He just got too poorly. He was fighting a battle that he couldn’t win.

“He had a really big heart. In our house we have loads of stuff that he brought to help the homeless.

“He has left the biggest whole in our family.”

Ollie was surrounded by his mum, dad Simon and girlfriend Georgia when he passed away in hospital at the age of 27 on May 5, following his battle with the disease.

Echo: Ollie and girlfriend Georgia Ollie and girlfriend Georgia

His brothers Sam, 29, Casey, 23, and Ronnie, 19, all visited Ollie before he passed away.

The family are now raising money for the Willow Foundation in memory of Ollie as “it was one of his wishes”.

Penny added: “We asked him what charity we should support and he said the Willow Foundation because they had given him a special day at Arsenal. He always spoke about it.

“I just want to thank everyone that’s supported us. Ollie was loved by everyone.”

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/penelope-bibby2