He was brave, selfless, loving and witty to the end, say the heartbroken family of a 30-year-old man who has lost his long fight against an aggressive skin cancer.

Charlie Davey died in the early hours of Sunday morning after an 11-year battle with the disease, during which he underwent pioneering treatment.

He passed away at his home in Wingham with his loved ones at his bedside.

His mum, Andrea, said: "We have said goodbye to our amazing, kind, beautiful, caring, loving, selfless, strong, witty, and polite son.

"He fought his last fight, and, wow, did he battle, but the wretched beast defeated him.

"He had his family around him, and I have no doubt he knew how much he was loved."

As well as his mum, Charlie leaves his dad Neil and younger sister Georgia.

Andrea says all those who knew him were touched by his demeanour and courage.

"He was very much loved, the extent of which has never been more apparent than over the last week or so when our home has witnessed a steady stream of support and comfort from all his family and precious friends," she said.

"We don’t just think of them as friends, they are our family.

"Nobody should lose their child, but to lose them in the way we did Charlie was beyond cruel and we are broken.

"But we want to thank everyone for their incredible support over the years."

Charlie was diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of just 19 when an inconspicuous mole on his neck was found to be a malignant melanoma.

He had it removed and went on his travels for three years, including to Australia.

But the deadly disease was quietly spreading, and on his return had become advanced, requiring urgent surgery.

His illness scuppered his hopes of training to be a primary school teacher at Canterbury Christ Church University due to his ongoing treatment, which included multiple surgeries to remove tumours.

His last chance was a pioneering experimental treatment not available on the NHS, which was funded through the extraordinary response to a GoFundMe appeal launched by Andrea in 2020.

Among the supporters was England and Kent cricketer Joe Denly who tweeted about it after hearing of Charlie's plight from his father, Nick Denly, who plays walking football with Charlie's dad, Neil.

It raised almost £68,000 from 1,300 supporters for drugs and 'adoptive cell therapy', in which tumour cells were removed from Charlie's body and used to grow immune cells in the laboratory, which were then implanted back in him.

"The response was incredible and we raised more than £30,000 in the first 24 hours," said Andrea.

"Many of them didn't even know Charlie but were touched by his plight."

Unfortunately, the treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2020 wasn't successful an Charlie's tumours continued to grow.

But cancer specialists say the therapy and other trials Charlie underwent have provided them with vital information to tweak the process in a bid to make treatments more effective in the future.

Andrea, who runs a dog grooming business, says Charlie was happy to undergo experimental treatments in the hope that even if it didn't work for him, the research might help patients in the future.

"The consultant said to me that Charlie had helped them so much because he actually took part in four trials for melanoma treatment during his time trying to fight it," she said.

"But that was typical of Charlie, who was always thinking of others.

"Even in recent weeks, he told me he wanted to set up a business to try and help refugees."

Andrea says the family have been hugely comforted by the support they have been given since Charlie's passing.

"Everybody loved him - there was nothing not to love. He didn't have a bad word to say about anyone," she said.

"Even in his final days, he would still come out with witty comments and was only thinking of others."

The family says a date will be set for Charlie's funeral at Barham crematorium in the near future.