"With one last sigh, he let go of the burden of pain and suffering that he has been bravely carrying for so long."
Floridian indie rockers Surfer Blood are mourning the loss of their guitarist Thomas Fekete today, after the 27-year-old lost his battle with a rare form of cancer yesterday.
His wife Jessica Fekete revealed the news in the GoFundMe page she set up in October 2015 to raise money for his chemotherapy treatments and surgery.
"Our sweet Thomas passed on last night, peacefully in his sleep, holding my hand. With one last sigh, he let go of the burden of pain and suffering that he has been bravely carrying for so long. I am full of comfort knowing that he is now free, and long for the day I get to be with him again," she wrote.
"It was an absolute privilege to stand next to Thomas and face this monster head on. Even as his body failed him, his mind and spirit soldiered on. Never was there a day that we weren't filled with hope. Never was there a day that he even considered throwing in the towel. He was the kind hearted, funny, fearless, magnetic beam of light you all knew him to be up until his very last breath."
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Fekete left Surfer Blood last year to focus on his treatment, during which he released a cassette-only solo record called Burner.
Surfer Blood have paid tribute to Fekete in a Facebook post: "I've never met anyone like you and I know I never will again. I don't know where or who I would be without you, and I'll miss you everyday."
Sending love to @surferblood on this sad day. Rest in peace, Thomas Fekete.
— Tennis Music (@TennisInc) May 31, 2016
. You were an amazing light brother RT @stereogum SurferBlood guit. Thomas Fekete has died https://t.co/2aW0qbAw8Z pic.twitter.com/Vw86QB3Mb8
— Young the Giant (@youngthegiant) May 31, 2016
I love you Thom. Thank you for being part of my life. I'll never meet anyone like you again & I'll miss you everyday pic.twitter.com/LUHQAU1MvO
— Surfer Blood (@surferblood) May 31, 2016