Boyzone star Stephen Gately found dead

FireIce SG

Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately

Boyzone singer Stephen Gately has been found dead at the age of 33, it was reported today.

Gately was believed to have been holidaying in Majorca when he died yesterday, according to a newspaper.

A friend of Gately's told the newspaper: "It looks like he went out for a few drinks, then got back, fell asleep and never woke up."

Boyzone manager Louis Walsh told the News of the World: "We're all absolutely devastated. I'm in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don't know much about what's happened yet.

"I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man."

All four remaining members of Boyzone - Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham - will be flying to Palma, Majorca tomorrow.

Boyzone star Shane Lynch told the News of the World: "Me and the boys are flying out in the morning. We just need to get over to where he's passed and work out what we need to do."

Ronan Keating, who is in Chicago, has been left devastated by the death of his close friend. A pal revealed to the newspaper: "Ronan is completely distraught. No-one saw this coming.

"He loved Stephen like a brother, they were so close, it's absolutely floored him.

"It's a massive shock to everyone and no one can take it in yet.

"He was a man in the prime of his life, and this is a huge tragedy."

Gay singer Gately's coming out ten years ago caused a sensation in the pop music world. He leaves a husband Andrew Cowles, who he married in a civil union in March, 2006.

Gately also became a star of theatre, TV and radio, appearing in the West End as Joseph in and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and in the ITV show Dancing on Ice.

Boyzone had 17 top five singles and four number one albums before splitting in 2000. They made a comeback tour in 2007, however their recent 19-date Better tour was deemed a flop as the band played to half-filled arenas.

A statement on Boyzone's official website confirmed the Irish singer's death.

It said: "Stephen tragically died yesterday whilst on holiday with his partner Andrew in Majorca.

"The rest of the boyz will be flying out today."

laurence82 SG

omg, so many celebrities died this year

Fantagf SG

Another sad case.

kopiosatu SG

wow

Justjason99 SG

Sad another star gone.

This going to be similar to 1997 when we lost Princess Diana, Versace, Mother Teresa, Glen Cambell and so many others.

Fantagf SG

nah, he is not in the same league as Princess Diana, Mother Theresa

Honeybunz SG

omg, so many celebrities died this year

harnor.

Also a year where many got married and many who are secretly married kenna exposed. Very happening year siah.

fudgester SG

I just wonder what the cause of death was....

Anaphylactic shock from something he drank in the alcohol?

mlmersrlosers SG

says he dies from choke on his own vomit

FireIce SG

Boyzone’s Stephen Gately is said to have died after choking on his own vomit following a booze and drugs binge - while his husband was having sex next door.

The singer († 33) of successful Irish boy band ‘Boyzone’ (15 million sold albums), was found dead on Saturday in unusual circumstances in his plush Mallorca apartment.

Spanish police reported that Stephen Gately, his life partner Andrew Cowles and several other friends were partying Saturday night in their apartment in the high class resort of Port d'Andratx.

Police sources also reported that partygoers consumed large amounts of alcohol and drugs while indulging in sex games until early in the morning.

German newspaper ‘B.Z’ reported that Stephen’s husband Andrew Cowles was having sex with ‘a friend’ for three hours in the room next to where the Boyzone singer was dying.

Andrew called the police at 1.45 pm the next afternoon after finding the lifeless body of Stephen kneeling in front of the sofa in the apartment.

Stephen is thought to have been sick in his sleep and then choked on his own vomit and asphyxiated.
Andrew is said to have desperately tried to revive him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but to no avail. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

Police were last night looking for a mysterious third man, Giorgi Duchev, a 25-year-old Bulgarian who Stephen and Andy met at the Black Cat nightclub that night and who went back to the couple’s one million dollar luxury apartment, according to the Daily Mail.

His bandmates, Ronan Keating (32), Keith Duffy (35), Mikey Graham (37) and Shane Lynch (33) flew to Mallorca shortly after hearing the news of Gately’s death.

In a post on their Boyzone official website the remaining band members wrote: "We are completely devastated by the loss of our friend and brother, Stephen.

"We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more. Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. He lit up our lives and those of the many friends he had all over the world. We love you and will miss you forever, 'Steo'".

laurence82 SG

British like to go Spain for holiday one