Ryan Dack married at Norwich hospital day before his death

Ryan Dack, 30, always wanted to fall in love, and on New Year's Eve in 2019 he did just that. So when doctors broke the news that they could do nothing more for him, his response was: “I need to get married.”  

Ryan was rushed into hospital towards the end of June where it was found he had developed pneumonia and after a short battle he died on Monday, June 26.  

Ryan met his wife Rosie in 2014 as the pair played in wheelchair football teams and quickly hit it off. 

Rosie, 25, said: “We got on really well and made a pact that if we were both still single by 2020, we would get together.  

“He remembered that and asked me on New Year's Eve.” 

The pair lost a year together due to being in the vulnerable category throughout the pandemic, as they both have life-limiting conditions. Rosie has Gorham Stouts Disease and Ryan had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

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Their main passion was wheelchair football, it is how they met, and they continued playing the game together (Image: Rosie Dack)

However, Rosie said they made the absolute most of the time they did have together including moving into their Wymondham home as well as coaching and playing wheelchair football.  

Rosie said: “It is something we were both really passionate about, it brings all different peoples and abilities onto a court.  

“It made us feel independent and allowed us to express ourselves – we owe our whole relationship to the sport.” 

The pair were set to say their vows at a fairytale wedding at Glen Lodge at Bawburgh Golf Club on August 26.

However, Ryan learned on June 25 that there was nothing more that staff at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital could do for him other than try to make his last hours comfortable.  

Rosie said: “When he found out, he said to his carer: ‘I need to get married’. It was his final wish. 

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The two were due to be married in August (Image: Rosie Dack)

“I got to the hospital around 3am and he told me that he wouldn’t be here for much longer and in that moment, I thought that our wedding had been taken, and instead he said: ‘so we are getting married today’. 

“And sure enough, by 8.45am we were saying our vows.” 

Friends and family gathered in the N&N's critical care ward to witness the wedding, with Rosie’s dad grabbing a white dress from her wardrobe as hers was being altered for their big day.  

Despite all of this, Rosie says the day was perfect.  

The pair were marries on Sunday June 25 in Norfolk and Norwich hospital (Image: Rosie Dack)

“I look back on our wedding, we didn’t have the big, beautiful dress and four-tiered cake, suits and ties," she continued. 

“But we had each other. We had our families around us and that was better and more sentimental, it meant more to us than a big fairytale wedding.” 

A video of the wedding went online and has been viewed more than 100,000 times – Rosie hopes this will help her husband's legacy live on.  

She added: “I’d like him to be remembered as someone who was extremely funny and has a lot of wit.” 

The pair made the most of the time they had together (Image: Rosie Dack)

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Rosie is asking for donations to be made to the Community Sports Foundation (CSF), as they both played for the Norwich City Powerchair team.

“We met through our love of football, so it seems fitting for donations to go there," she said.  

Darren Hunter, disability development manager at CSF, said: “We are very sad at Ryan’s passing. He will be sorely missed by the players and coach.  

Rosie would like her husband to be remembered as funny and kind (Image: Rosie Dack)

“Our thoughts at this time are with Rosie and the rest of the family.” 

The funeral will take place on Tuesday, July 25 at 12.30pm at Earlham Crematorium.