Going back: Defoe, who departed Luton for Poland on Wednesday, will now fly back to London to be with his family

'Everyone at the Club sends their sincere condolences to Jermain and his family.'

Tributes and message of support instantly poured out on social networking site Twitter.

Ipswich and former Arsenal forward Jay Emmanuel Thomas was one of the first to send his sympathies to Defoe. He posted: 'Rest In Peace Jimmy Defoe 7/6/2012'.

It is the latest family tragedy to hit Defoe. In 2009 he was left reeling after his 26-year-old half-brother Jade was murdered following an attack in east London before his grandmother passed away at the funeral.

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