‘MY BELOVED HUSBAND, MY BEST FRIEND’ — WIFE OF FALLEN PC MATTHEW BLADES PAYS HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE AFTER A66 CRASH

The wife of PC Matthew Blades has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her husband, describing him as her “beloved husband, my best friend” and the “most devoted father” to their two young boys.

Matthew, 37, was one of two Cleveland Police officers who died in the devastating A66 crash near Middlesbrough on the morning of August 22.

His wife said the pain of losing him was “beyond words” and that her family’s lives would “never be the same.”

‘OUR CHILDREN WILL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FATHER HE WAS’

In a statement released through Cleveland Police, Matthew’s wife remembered the man behind the uniform.

She described him as an adored son and brother, a “perfect son-in-law” and a much-loved uncle.

But above all, she said, he was a devoted father.

“Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be,” she said.

She added that Matthew’s greatest legacy would be the love he gave to his family.

She ended her tribute with a heartbreaking message:

“Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.”

A POLICE OFFICER — AND A FOOTBALL COACH

Matthew’s impact was not limited to his work as a police officer.

He was also deeply involved in youth football and coached children in teams connected to his sons.

Seaton Carew FC said Matthew had recently joined the club as a coach and was preparing for the new season with its Under-7 Seahawks team.

He had been looking forward to coaching his own son.

Matthew had also coached his eldest son and other youngsters at FC Hartlepool, where he was remembered as a role model, mentor and friend.

The clubs said he was someone the children looked up to and admired.

THE CRASH THAT TOOK SEVEN LIVES

Matthew and fellow Cleveland Police officer PC Tom Clough, 38, were responding to the area when their marked police vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66.

Five young men travelling in the Passat also died.

They were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

According to the watchdog’s preliminary account, the Passat had been pursued for just under seven minutes before it entered the A66 against the flow of traffic. The pursuit was then abandoned, and around 10 seconds later the Passat collided with the separate police vehicle carrying Matthew and Tom.

‘HE GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY’

For Matthew’s family, however, the tragedy is not about the investigation or the circumstances of the collision.

It is about a husband who will never come home.

A father who will never coach another game with his sons.

And a man whose family and friends say left an impact that cannot be replaced.

His wife said he gave his life “in the line of duty,” protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.

As tributes continue to pour in, Matthew is being remembered not simply as a police officer — but as a husband, a father, a coach and a man deeply loved by the people around him.

Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever their superhero.