Bradley Lowery, the six-year-old Sunderland FC fan suffering from neuroblastoma, has died.

Lowery died on Friday in the arms of his parents, and surrounded by family members.

“My brave boy went with the angels today 07/07/17 at 13:35, in mammy and daddies arms surrounded by his family. ????????????,” her mother wrote on the Facebook page dedicated to Lowery’s ordeal.

“He was our little superhero and put the biggest fight up but he was needed else where. There are no words to describe how heart broken we are.

“Thank you everyone for all your support and kind words. Sleep tight baby boy and fly high with them angels ????????????????????.”

Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms in certain types of nerve tissue, is the most common cancer in babies and the third most common cancer in children after leukemia and brain cancer.

About one in every 7,000 children is affected at some point in time, with about 90% of cases occurring in children less than five years old.

Lowery became popular after Jermaine Defoe, ex-Sunderland striker, developed interest in the boy and visited him in hospital during his time at the Stadium of Light.

In May, Defoe famously clad Bradley Lowery in his arms as the terminally-ill lad led out Sunderland in the Black Cat’s final home game against Swansea.

Earlier in match, Defoe, in his first international appearance in many years, allowed Lowery lead England out in a clash against Lithuania at Wembley.