America: reactions pour in following death of Beau Biden, Son of Vice President Joe Biden

by Benson Agoha | USA

Beau Biden, Son and best of friends to Vice President Joe Biden, died of brain cancer, Saturday, The White House confirms in a statement.

Beau Biden who has died of brain cancer

Beau Biden, former attorney general of his home state of Delaware, and the son of Vice President Joe Biden, died Saturday after a battle with brain cancer that was first diagnosed two years ago.

The US Vice president announced his son died late Saturday night surrounded by his family.

He said in a statement: "The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau's spirit will live on in all of us —especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter."

President Barack Obama led condolence messages following the announcement of the death of the son of his two term deputy, Joe Biden.

Speaking through the White House Twitter account, the US President said he and his wife Michelle were grieving, and called Beau Biden a friend.

He wrote: "Michelle and I humbly pray for the good Lord to watch over Beau Biden, and to protect and comfort his family here on Earth," adding "Like his dad, Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he touched — and he lives on in their hearts."

According to ABC News, the US President quoted the poet William Butler Yeats in offering condolences to the Biden family: "I have believed the best of every man, and find that to believe it is enough to make a bad man show him at his best, or even a good man swing his lantern higher."

"Beau Biden believed the best of us all. For him, and for his family, we swing our lanterns higher," Obama said.

Delaware State Governor, Jack Markell said: "He was extraordinarily in tune with people. He was passionate about serving.... I think it's important that people know what a real, genuine, decent guy he was." 

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.): "Throughout his life, Beau never shied away from doing the right thing, even when it meant doing the hard thing. Beau served his country and community with honor, and that's how he will be remembered."

Beau Biden, former Delaware attorney general and the son of Vice President Joe Biden, died late Saturday - after a battle with brain cancer, the vice president said in a statement.

According to ABC: Joseph "Beau" Biden III, 46, was hospitalized earlier this month at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He died Saturday evening surrounded by his family, the vice president's office said.

Biden was diagnosed with brain cancer in August of 2013, and he underwent successful surgery and chemotherapy treatment. This spring, he suffered a recurrence and sought treatment, the vice president's office said.

He is survived by his wife, Hallie, and their two children, Natalie and Hunter; Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden; his brother Hunter Biden, sister-in-law Kathleen, and nieces Naomi, Finnegan, and Maisy; and his sister Ashley Biden and brother-in-law Howard Krein, the vice president's office said. 

by Benson Agoha (with contributions from AP, Fox News and ABC News).