THE family of tragic wrestling star Davey Boy Smith is struggling to come to terms with its third tragedy.

The shock sudden death of the 39-year-old WWF Golborne hero on Saturday brings more heartache for the grieving family.

They lost mother Joyce and 26 year old sister Tracey to cancer within three months of each other in 1999, the year after Davey, known as the British Bulldog, broke his back in the ring, and was told he would never walk again.

Father Syd, 63, and sister Joanne, were this week being comforted by a stream of stunned callers to their Caunce Avenue homes. Older brother Terence returned to his Welsh home on Monday.

Syd said he was told of his son's death in a call from Canada on Saturday night, but was still waiting to ascertain the cause.

It is not yet known whether the former Golborne High schoolboy, who always wanted to be a star, had a heart attack or choked while on a two day break with girlfriend Andrea Hart in British Columbia.

He said: "I can't believe it, he had just decided to go back into the ring after a two year break. He loved his sport and was dedicated to it.

"He was a gentle giant with a beautiful personality who looked after his family.

"He never smoke or drank, and trained every day. I can't understand why this should have happened.

"I want to bring his body home and reunite him with his mother and sister at Golborne Catholic Church, but that will be up to his two teenage children, Harry and Georgia to decide."

Three years ago Davey, who lived in Calgary, was told by doctors he would not walk again after breaking his spine in the ring and suffering a spinal infection.

However, three months after leaving hospital he was back in the gym, and a year later signed a multi-million pound deal to fight for the WWF -- now known as the Wrestling World of Entertainment.

His father said: "I don't know how he overcame the accident but he was always strong, willing to work hard, and never let anyone get him down, and he wasn't big-headed.

"He started wrestling at 10, and always wanted to be a star. He fought Big Daddy on TV when he was 15, emigrated to Canada at 18, where he married and won fame and fortune as the British Bulldog. He lived a millionaire lifestyle, last visiting this area in 1994."

Despite winning a European Championship on his return to the ring, he was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic for an addiction to painkillers, and had further spells in hospital for treatment to an infected shoulder and pneumonia.

A former teacher at Golborne High said: "He surprised us all with his achievements. He certainly led a very colourful life, the staff who remember him will be very sorry to hear this sad news."