Wrexham fan Jay Fear dies of cancer after Ryan Reynolds helped him get his final wish

The Wrexham fan who met Ryan Reynolds as his final wish has died of cancer at the age of 45.

Jay Fear - who was re-diagnosed with terminal appendix cancer in January - got to meet the Deadpool star last month and presented the Southampton man with a bucket list gift.

Fear became a fan of the Welsh club after watching Disney+ documentary Welcome to Wrexham, which gave us an insight into the surprise take-over by Hollywood stars, Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

On 22 April, the 45-year-old watched the team live and witnessed Wrexham win promotion back to the Football League after a 15-year absence.

Family photo

Fear said he was able to have a lengthy chat with the Wrexham co-owner.

"They always say you should never meet your idol and this guy is definitely an exception to that," Fear told BBC 5 Live's Sunday Breakfast at the time.

Paying tribute to Fear, Reynolds said: "So grateful to have spent time with Jay Fear.

"He didn't have much of it left and the fact he shared that time so freely with others is something I'll never take for granted and never forget. This man lived.

"Sending all my love to Deb, Jess and Sam.

"Thank you for sharing your dad with me. I know how inadequate words must be given your enormous loss.

"Sending you all your love from my family, Wrexham and beyond.

"I loved every second I spent with Jay."

Reynolds gifted Fear a signed glove used in Deadpool 2 and arranged for him to visit the set for the series' third film.

PA

Bucket List Wishes, who helped arrange the meeting, said: "This wish is the hardest, took the most amount of volunteer hours and cost the most in almost ten years of us granting wishes."

At the time, Fear told Reynolds: "I really hope I'm going to be about to get to see Deadpool 3 when it comes out.

"He went 'well, we're filming in six weeks so why don't we get you guys up to London. Yeah, let's make that happen'.

"I was like.... 'please'."

Fear added: "People might think this whole thing was for me.

"Actually, this is for [my family] because they are the ones that are going to remember what happened for the rest of their lives.

"I just hope this is a core memory that they'll never forget."