Jermain Defoe flies back from Euro 2012 after sudden death of his father

Jimmy (Jermain's father)

Jermain Defoe

England striker Jermain Defoe flew back to England today after learning that his father had died after losing his battle with throat cancer.

The Tottenham striker left England's hotel ten minutes before the rest of the squad boarded a coach for their first training session in Poland having only arrived in the country on Wednesday evening.

Defoe – dressed in jeans, trainers and a black top – was escorted from the Stary Hotel by an FA chaperone and taken by car to Krakow airport for a flight back to the UK.

The Daily Mail has learned that England manager Roy Hodgson was 'aware' of the illness affecting Defoe's 47-year-old father and knew there was a possibility that the player might have to return home to be with family and friends sometime during the tournament.

'Jermain's father had been ill for some time,' said an FA source.

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