It’s been revealed that Stephen Gately died in October from a undiagnosed heart condition, according to a forensic report.
Gately gained fame as a member of the Boyzone band and was on vacation on the Spanish island of Majorca when he died at the age of 33. The cause of death is acute pulmonary oedema, a build-up of fluid on the lungs caused by atheromatosis which is a thickening of the arteries. This is considered quite rare in a person under the age of 50.
The report made it clear he had not been killed by alcohol or drugs. When his civil partner Andrew Cowles discovered Gately, he may have been dead for up to eight hours.
A Bulgarian student who was with the couple that night named Georgi Dochev who sold his story to the UK’s Sunday Mirror. He said that he and Cowles had slept together in the bedroom, believing that Gately was sleeping off a hangover.
Stephen Gately, from the Irish boy band Boyzone, died of natural causes, autopsy results show.
A Balearic Islands Superior Tribunal statement says the autopsy shows the 33-year-old singer died as a result of a pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
On Saturday, Stephen was found dead on the sofa of a house on the Spanish island of Majorca while vacationing with his partner Andrew Cowles.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Stephen’s family and friends.
Stephen Gately, the gay Boyzone singer who was found dead this weekend, had been drinking heavily on the night he died.
According to reports, the star and his civil partner Andy Cowles, 31, had been drinking at the Black Cat, the biggest gay club in Palma, Majorca, where they were on holiday.
He is said to have been drinking heavily for eight hours and may have choked on his own vomit after going to sleep on a sofa at his apartment.
Gately was found kneeling against the sofa with his head in a pillow on Saturday at lunchtime. Cowles and a family member tried to revive him but were unsuccessful.
A family friend told the Daily Mirror: "The family have been told the most likely scenario is Stephen had a bit too much to drink, vomited in his sleep and choked. It was a terrible accident."
Tributes from other stars have been pouring in.
Elton John called him "the kindest, gentlest soul" and added: "We send our love and condolences to his partner Andy and to all his friends everywhere."
Former Irish Taioseach (prime minister) Bertie Ahern told the BBC: ""It's such a tragedy. Boyzone and Stephen Gately have been part of Irish life and far wider than that for 15 years and with such success. It's a huge, huge tragedy, he was only 33."
Former Boyzone manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh described him as "one in a million" and said that Cowles was "devastated" over his death.
Spanish police are currently trying to trace another man who returned to the flat with the couple. Police said that the Bulgarian man, known as Giorgio, is not a suspect but could prove vital in helping them discover what happened.
Gately first came into the public eye when he played a small part in the Alan Parker film the Commitments in 1991. In 1993, he joined the Irish band, Boyzone.
The manufactured boy band scored six UK number ones and sold over ten million albums.
In 1999, Gately took the brave decision to come out as gay in an interview with the Sun. A year later, the band split following the decision of lead singer, Ronan Keating to pursue a solo career.
Gately attempted his own solo career but was dropped by his record label in 2001. He then led a successful career as a musical actor before the band re-formed earlier this year.
In 2006, he became one of the first gay celebrities to hold a civil partnership, when he wed long-term partner Cowles.
His body will be flown back to the UK this week.
Stephen Gately, the openly gay member of the Irish "boy band" Boyzone has died while on holiday in the Balearic island Mallorca.
The 33-year-old was on holiday with his civil partner Andrew Cowles and it is reported that he went out for drinks, went back to his hotel, feel asleep and then died.
Ronan Keating and other members of the band are to travel to the island later today. In the last few minutes, Spanish police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances relating to Gately's death.
Gately first came into the public eye when he played a small part in the Alan Parker film the Commitments in 1991. In 1993, he joined the Irish band, Boyzone.
The manufactured boy band scored six UK number ones and sold over ten million albums.
In 1999, Gately took the brave decision to come out as gay in an interview with the Sun. A year later, the band split following the decision of lead singer, Ronan Keating to pursue a solo career.
Gately attempted his own solo career but was dropped by his record label in 2001. He then led a successful career as a musical actor before the band re-formed earlier this year.
In 2006, he became one of the first gay celebrities to hold a civil partnership, when he wed long-term partner Andrew Cowles.
In a statement Gately's agent, Back Door Management, said: "Stephen was a very talented and much loved client and it was our great pleasure to work with him and our thoughts and condolences are extended to his loved ones at this very distressing time.
"Stephen was both in and out of the spotlight a genuine, funny and very charismatic man "
"We are shocked and saddened that he is no longer with us and had such a short life as he had much more to give.
"Stephen was both in and out of the spotlight a genuine, funny and very charismatic man who was a joy to spend time with and it was a privilege to know him.
"He retained that rare quality of being humble despite his fame and this endeared him to those he worked with."
The gay author, wit and actor Stephen Fry posted a tweet on Twitter saying: "Just heard the very sad news about dear Stephen Gately. What a dreadful shock. He was loveable and sweet-natured and will be hugely missed."
Former Irish Taioseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern told the BBC: ""It's such a tragedy. Boyzone and Stephen Gately have been part of Irish life and far wider than that for 15 years and with such success. It's a huge, huge tragedy, he was only 33."
It’s been revealed that Stephen Gately died in October from a undiagnosed heart condition, according to a forensic report.
