Tarro Taz Grogan death: More tributes and pictures

The mixed martial arts fighter, a former British champion, of Peridot Close, Roe Lee, has been described as a ‘true warrior’ with a heart of gold.

His sister said: "How can life carry on when nothing feels worth it anymore, Tarro wasn't just my brother he was protector, my rock, the one person I could rely on no matter.

"Whatever I was going through, he had my back and I had his.

"I was blessed to have him and so proud to call him my brother. I may have a million people around me sayin they'll be there but no one will ever compare to him."

For almost a decade the 29-year-old, who worked as a labourer, trained at mixed martial arts gym, Blackburn Predators, on Chadwick Street, and during that time he even won a British title.

The day before the former student at Witton Park High School died he was a spectator at the MMA UK Fighting Championships in Preston, a competition he has fought in on several occasions.

Head coach Rob Freedman, who has been training with Mr Grogan for the last eight years, described the father-of-two as a ‘naturally gifted athlete’ and says his death has left him ‘devastated’.

The 43-year-old, from Livesey, said: “We at the club feel devastated by the death of our brother. He was a unique guy, one in a million, with a heart of gold.

“Taz fought multiple times at both boxing and MMA with a fantastic amount of success, even picking up a British title along the way.

“As a coach, you couldn’t want anything more, a naturally gifted athlete, with a drive to better himself and make all his friends and family proud of the man he is.”

Gym bosses cancelled tonight's training session and instead members will meet at the Havelock Inn, from 7pm tonight, to discuss plans of putting on a boxing show in memory of the fighter. All the proceeds will go towards his two daughters, Brooke and Aroura.

Mr Freedman added: “Taz was a very loving and caring dad. We feel this is what he would have wanted.”

Cherish Duckworth, Mr Grogan's sister is also raising money for his two children and has set up a fundraising page. All donations will be divided between the girls when they turn 18.

On Facebook Ms Duckworth said: “Words cannot describe how I’m feeling right now. My heart is broken. I loved my little brother, my best friend more than life.”

Following the dad-of-two's death four people were arrested and remain in custody. They are a 26-year-old man, a 28-year-old man, a 29-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman.

A post-mortem was carried out this afternoon to determine the medical cause of death.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 537 of Sunday, October 14.