A MARTIAL arts instructor has paid tribute to a Pitsea man who was stabbed and killed in the street.

Daniel Mitchell-Monroe, 37, who worked at the Harvester, in High Road, Langdon Hills was attacked outside Iceland, in Market Pavement, Basildon at about 5.30pm on Tuesday.

The dad-of-one sadly died at the scene, with a post mortem examination giving his cause of death as stab wounds to the chest.

Daniel Burzotta, who runs Southend-based TSG MMA Fight School, trained Mr Mitchell-Monroe in martial arts until about 18 months ago, when he had to give up training to care for his mum after she broke her back.

Paying tribute, Mr Burzotta said: “He was such a lovely guy. He was a small guy but he had a massive personality.

“He was always smiling and you knew when he was in the room, he was that kind of person. He was a big bubbly character.”

Mr Burzotta said that Daniel had come from a kick-boxing background and was keen to learn martial arts.

He added: “I think what has happened is just tragic. It’s a terrible waste of a life to die so young.

“It’s an absolute tragedy. He has a young boy as well, and he woke up on Wednesday without a father.”