This is Leicestershire --A terminally-ill father who was hoping to tie the knot with his sweetheart next Friday has taken a turn for the worse, and been married in his hospital bed.
Knill Paget's story about his dying wish to marry his partner Bernadette Campbell prompted dozens of offers of help from Leicester Mercury readers, whose generosity gave him "the gift of hope and belief in this world".
A church ceremony was planned for July 26, with entertainers, florists, tailors, jewellers and other people contributing for free so that Knill, of Braunstone, Leicester, could fulfil his wish of a "proper family" with Bernadette and their son, Liam.
However, on Tuesday, Knill was taken to Nottingham City Hospital with a chest infection. He and Bernadette were married on Thursday.
A statement from the couple to everyone who has offered help and good wishes read: "Knill's biggest wish was to marry his partner, Bernie, with a proper church wedding and create lots of happy memories for his son, Liam, and his new wife to carry with them into the future.
"Unfortunately, Knill is in a very bad way so he and his sweetheart married at his bedside on July 18 in a lovely, but extremely-rushed wedding."
Knill was due to be moved to Loros yesterday, with just days to live.
The couple's statement said Knill, 31, was happy to be leaving five-year-old Liam in a world where people are so generous.
It said: "To all of you wonderful and generous people, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving Knill the gift of hope and belief in this world we live in.
"He said he knows he is leaving Liam in a good place with people like yourselves in it.
"No matter what bad goes on in this world, there is always much more good.
"He has never stopped believing this and although he asks 'why do people want to help me?', it always makes him happy and humbles him.
"Every offer that came in surprised him but it helped him smile and is making his last days happy ones."
His aunt, Melanie Feltham, said: "Knill and Bernadette had a quick bedside wedding after we decided there was no way we could go ahead with the wedding this Friday.
"As well as the chest infection, he also had a blood clot, which is all related to his tumour.
"The family has received so many fantastic offers of help. I don't think Knill would have lasted so long without them."
The family is organising a celebration of Knill's life and will be inviting everyone who donated suits, rings, shoes, flowers, cars, money or their services.
Video shows the family speaking last month after they received dozens of offers of help.*
* Reported by This is 9 hours ago.