Family pay tribute to "kind hearted" uncle after his death in Redditch stabbing
Sebastian Daelman died after suffering a stab wound on April 28
The family of a man who died after a stabbing in Redditch have paid tribute to him a month on from his death.
Sebastian Daelman, 41, suffered a stab wound on Martley close on April 28 and died in hospital a short time later.
His family say he was a "kind-hearted man with the brightest smile."
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court on Tuesday 2 June.
In a tribute issued today (May 28) his mom Dawn, dad Clive, brother Christian and sister Nadine have paid tribute to him:
“Sebastian was a kind‑hearted man with the brightest smile, the sort of smile that lit up a room and made everyone around him feel seen and cared for. He was a protector by nature, someone who looked out for others long before he ever thought about himself.“His proudest role in life was being Uncle Sebastian to his niece, Ivy. He adored her. He would brag about her to anyone who would listen, telling people how clever she was and how lucky he felt to be her uncle. Wanting to be better for Ivy was one of his biggest motivations in life.
“Every morning he would go to mom’s house to “make the old girl a cuppa”. We still expect the door to open and see his enormous smile. He’d swagger in, wearing his best gear, grinning from ear to ear and announcing, “I’m fresh.” Knowing that will never happen again breaks our hearts every day.
“He loved the weekly breakfast club with Christian, Nadine and Ivy – his safe space to ask for advice, share stories, and spend time with his favourite person in the entire world. His go‑to phrase, “give your head a wobble,” became his own brand of wise words.
“Sebastian’s friends were his extended family, his adopted brothers and sisters, and he treated them with the same loyalty and love as his own. He didn’t have much, but whatever he had, he shared. Even if there wasn’t milk in the fridge, there was always space on his sofa and comfort to offer anyone who needed it.
“He was well known in Redditch and would talk to everyone as he went about his day - often with his cat, Dotty, following him through town. The kindness shown to him over the years by Friends of Isaac’s Food Bank meant the world to him and will never be forgotten our family.
“Time with family was everything. Holidays, special occasions, and even the ordinary days are now cherished memories. He was a brilliant cook and the self‑appointed BBQ master - once Nadine had lit it for him - and sunny afternoons would be soundtracked with Bob Marley, UB40, Oasis and The Beatles.
“He was incredibly proud of his little sister when she earned her place at university to study photography, even if he rarely let her take photos of him. He was a true gentleman; he never let anyone else carry the shopping bags and would tell mom off for even trying.
“Sebastian would try anything once. It didn’t take much convincing for him to abseil down the town hall with dad one random afternoon. And he always had a new hobby on the go. He became an expert on World War II and was a bird‑of‑prey enthusiast. He’d spend hours watching the birds in the aviary at the bottom of Mom’s garden. He also took up gardening – probably his most fruitful hobby.
“These interests brought him peace on days when he battled with his own mind, yet he always powered through to be present for others and to make them smile.
“He loved deeply - sometimes for too long - and more than anything, he wanted to be a dad. That was his dream in life, and he never got the chance to have children of his own and for them to feel the unconditional love he had to give.
“We’ll remember him as Uncle Sebastian to his Ivy, forever. To everyone else, he will be remembered for his heart of gold and a smile so wide it filled his face.
“We are so grateful for the support shown by friends and the community since his death, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help with funeral costs. But it’s a funeral we shouldn’t be planning and one that comes as a consequence of knife crime.
“Sebastian will be laid to rest with his Nanny Jo, a woman he idolised and said “could walk on water” for everything she did for him.
“Our hearts are broken and will never fully heal from this insane loss and the grief that now fills our lives.“Sebastian, we will never stop loving you, and we will never stop telling the world exactly who you were.”