Ashley Cain speaks out after ‘most difficult day’ at daughter Azaylia’s funeral: ‘Rest in eternal paradise’

Ashley Cain has spoken out for the first time after his daughter Azaylia’s funeral last week, describing it as the ‘most difficult day’. 

The former footballer and his girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee laid Azaylia to rest on Friday, a month after she died following a battle with a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia. 

Hundreds of supporters lined the streets of Nuneaton, Warwickshire to pay their respects to Azaylia, before her family attended a private service and burial. 

Alongside a photo of him looking grief-stricken during the memorial, Ashley wrote in an Instagram post: ‘Beautiful, strong, courageous, inspirational. Forever in my heart. 

‘Friday was by far the most difficult day of my life. Laying to rest my beautiful daughter who had such a huge, positive and powerful impact on not only myself and my family, but the entire world. 💔.’ 

The former Ex On The Beach star added: ‘Rest in eternal paradise princess. Daddy loves you forever and always! 👼🏼.’ 

Safiyya praised her partner’s strength and commented on the post: ‘The most difficult day I have ever experienced in my life, my heart feels shattered but I’m so so proud of our little girl she is amazing, we gave her the best send of we could and I am so proud of you Ashley you did amazing 🧡🧡🧡 azaylias beautiful daddy 🧡🧡🧡.’ 

Ashley also added unseen photos from the private burial, including he and Safiyya standing by the little one’s graveside and throwing flowers onto the casket. 

In other heartbreaking images, Ashley was seen carrying Azaylia’s casket on his shoulder along with other pallbearers, as well as delivering a eulogy inside the service. 

Azaylia’s casket was adorned with her initials ADC – Azaylia Diamond Cain – as well as orange flowers, as horses with orange headdresses pulled a white carriage carrying her.

Ashley had previously asked people who would like to line the streets along the route to show their love by clapping and making joyous noise of celebration as the cortege goes by.

He also invited supporters to celebrate ‘Azaylia Day’ and, in line with police guidance, shared the route of the cortege.

Ashley and Safiyya had fought tirelessly to save Azaylia, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at just eight weeks old. 

They had raised over £1million via a GoFundMe page to secure specialist treatment for their daughter in Singapore. However, doctors over there learned her disease was too advanced for them to treat and she died at home on April 24.

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