The news that shook the world.

It was half-past 12 - as most Sundays I was lazing around not doing a fat lot - whilst ominously scrolling through my Twitter updates expecting some interesting or perhaps shocking comment to leap out at me. What caught my eye that second, was mind-blowing...

The official BBCSport Twitter page was the first on my timeline to post the short and shudderingly straight-to-the-point comment: "BREAKING: Wales manager Gary Speed has died". In all honesty I froze - not really sure how long passed before a text came through from a friend woke me. I didn't believe the Tweet one bit, some kind of sick joke? Something funny happened for on TV or for Charity? No. The sickening text confirmed what Twitter had informed me & it was not until I called upstairs to share the news with my Dad when it actually really hit me.

Gary Speed - the model professional, the sporting icon, the seemingly ultra-fit sportsman had horrifically taken his own life in terrifying circumstances. A national hero, big things were happening in his life - the Welsh team that took on England at Wembley in early September - lead by this iconic Welshman. That was it, snap, it was all gone - a glittering career of pleasing thousands, creating a loving family & looking after himself to the upmost possibility gone with whatever hung in Speed's mind - you just couldn't digest - tributes started cramming Twitter from team-mates and colleagues, they couldn't accept it either, it couldn't be true.

It was very true - I had watched Football Focus on the BBC on Saturday with him as a featured guest giving his insight in everything to do with the Welsh teams' prospects and just where his career is heading: the exciting times he will come to face with this more than exciting national side. That proud, loyal and seemingly top-of-the-world family man had it all - nothing witnessed on the television that day could've suggested a negative bone in his body. To think there were thoughts inside of that head that led him to no other way out but to take his own life, is simply numbing.

Despite Speed never playing at the club i supported - and even with perhaps the 'prime' of his career being a bit before my time he was someone who, when I caught on this pitch I instantly admired. You could tell from one glimpse of that puffed out chest and captain's armband he was such a genuine proud leader. Yet a look further up into that calm, kind face told you there was not a bad bone in his body - to witness an interview or to hear team-mates speak of him only confirmed those original thoughts you would get when witnessing him play. The leader of dreams to have along-side you, so approachable, so knowledgeable and so genuinely friendly. It truly is a tragedy.

I sat attached to the living-room sofa for much of the afternoon - rooted on the BBC News channel - where hour after hour, feature after feature bought more reaction from this sickening news on a day that really rocked not only our footballing world but the world as a whole, with tributes flying in from all over the globe. One interview that genuinely knocked me back and bought a lump to my throat was that of former Welsh international team-mate and extremely close friend, Robbie Savage. The Strictly Come Dancing contestant, forever viewed as such a 'hard man' of football in the break of the 21st century clearly could not take what had happened. He lasted 3 or 4 minutes on the interview fondly sharing special memories of himself and 'Speedo' before recalling the phone conversation they had shared less than 24 hours before the discovery of the body and referencing the 'beautiful' wife and sons he had left behind. Savage could take it no long and the interview had to be broken off - tears leaking from the eyes of this man who had lost such a loved one.

Gary was quite clearly so proud of where this current exciting crop of Welsh youngsters could take his nation - tributes from many of them kept flying in from all news sources: Aaron Ramsey, Chris Gunter and Simon Church were just 3 that I caught, with Craig Bellamy being withdrawn from the Liverpool squad that was due to take on Manchester City that day after being 'too upset to play'.

In reality - the biggest shock to the system, for myself - was that it really does go to show that we are all human. Gary Speed seemingly had it all, a magical career at club level and internationally, Welsh all-time most capped outfield player along with most appearances in the Premier League for an outfield player. He had a loving and supporting family - who from his career he could provide for 'till his heart was content. He had been able to take up his coaching badges, put that marvelous playing career behind him and jump into the vacant national team manager seat after just 4 months managerial experience and what promise his time there showed. Gary had all of this, all of it.

Yet there was still something - that thing scratching away in the back of his mind - that allowed him to commit the most traumatic of acts known to man. There are no words of condolence that can be given to the Speed family. The grief must be quite unreal, and something no young, tight family should ever have to be put through.

He was an immensely calm footballer, a real midfield general, the iconic sportsman. Any abiding youngster need to look no further than this Welsh hero - a Premier League great.

There is not much more that can be said, I'm sure to this moment his death has not sunk in on me. Football lost such a character today - but more pressingly - the world lost a great man - a great husband, father and above all - a true gentleman.

Rest In Peace Gary Speed - 8th September 1969 - 27th November 2011.

God bless you and your loved ones.