VANESSA BRYANT: ‘I WISH I COULD HUG THEM’
Stars around the world are paying tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant after he and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, perished alongside seven others in a horror helicopter crash.
The retired LA Lakers shooting guard, 41, passed away on January 26 in Calabasas, California when the helicopter he was travelling in crashed into the side of a mountain. Bryant was on his way to a practice session at Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks with his daughter and seven others – including two of Gianna’s teammates – when the helicopter went down.
Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and three daughters, Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and 7-month-old Capri.
Vanessa broke her silence on her unimaginable loss via Instagram.
“There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved,” Vanessa wrote. “We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”
Only hours after his death, celebrities and sports stars around the world mourned the loss of the
NBA All-star.
David and Victoria Beckham, who were close friends of Kobe, both shared emotional tributes.
“This was one special athlete, husband, father and friend. Having to write these words is hard enough but also knowing we have lost an amazing human being and his beautiful and talented daughter Gianna is heartbreaking,” David wrote on Instagram. “Kobe Bryant was an incredible figure on and off the court, a friend to David and determined to inspire the next generation,” Posh added.
Actor Leonardo Dicaprio also honoured Bryant’s life.
“Kobe was truly larger than life, a legend. May he and all those who lost their lives today rest in peace. Love and condolences to his family,” he tweeted. Ellen Degeneres broke down in tears while filming her talk show as she spoke about her friendship with the late basketball star.
“Life is short and it’s fragile. And we don’t know how many birthdays we have. We don’t have
to have a birthday to celebrate. Just celebrate life,” Ellen said.
As his family comes to terms with the devastating loss, sources say Vanessa is ‘inconsolable’ after the death of her husband and daughter.
“She can’t finish a sentence without crying. But she is working very hard to pull it together for the other girls. She now has to be the strong one,” a source close to the family told People magazine.
Kobe’s cultural impact extended far beyond his brilliance on the court.
An entire generation of sports fans associated his name with achieving greatness and living your dreams.
May the legend rest in peace.