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Stephen Gately Death Update: Post Mortem and Photos From Majorca

by Amy Judd | October 13, 2009 at 10:19 am

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Stephen Gately's cause of death from a post mortem shows that the Boyzone singer died of natural causes at the age of 33 while on holiday with his partner Andy Cowles on the Spanish island of Majorca.

He died of pulmonary oedema or edema, which is a build-up of fluid on the lungs, and is caused by the failure of the heart to remove fluid from the lungs or it can be caused by an injury to the lung. Stephen Gately still has to undergo a toxicology test, but police have said there were no signs of suspicious circumstances, but it is not known at this time if he exhibited any of the signs of pulmonary edema, which can include difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, pale skin, and the production of pink frothy phlegm.

His body has been given the all clear to be flown home today.

See photos from Majorca of Stephen Gately's body and of Georgi Dochev who found his body along wtih Andy Cowles.

A lawyer for Mr Gately's family ruled out the possibility of suicide or the involvement of drugs.

Gerald Kean told GMTV: "This sort of thing does happen, we are absolutely happy that there is no foul play."

"[The family's] sole purpose and function at the moment is to try and get their son and brother home as quickly as possible."

Georgi Dochev, 25, is believed to have been with Andy Cowles and Stephen the night that Stephen died and he is saying he alerted Cowles after finding Stephen 'very cold and white' in the apartment that the couple was sharing in Majorca.

Dochev, who is from Bulgaria, is said to have come back to the apartment with the couple on Saturday after a night on the town; he is cooperating with police.

The members of the band Boyzone flew to Majorca on Sunday and returned back to the UK today as they wanted to pay their respects to their late friend and colleague. The band said they are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen.

Gerald Kean, a lawyer for Mr. Gately's family said that Mr. Gately had been in the apartment until about midnight on Friday, when he want to Palma, about an hour away, by himself. It is thought that Mr. Gately spent a few hours there and came back before 6am to the apartment. However, this may contradict with Dochev's story who claims to have come back with both of them.

Police are not looking for anyone in connection with the death.

Stephen Gately was part of the band Boyzone, formed in Ireland in 1993 and shocked fans when he announced he was gay. He and Andy Cowles were married in 2006.

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