Black Widow
10-12-2009, 11:24 AM
BOYZONE'S Stephen Gately died after a wild eight-hour binge, The Sun can reveal.
The 33-year-old, who rarely drank, was "totally trashed" during a night at a gay club on Majorca with civil partner Andy Cowles.
They were seen downing potent cocktails and white wine before meeting up with a 25-year-old Bulgarian and returning to their £1million apartment where they continued boozing.
Andy discovered Stephen dead next morning. Police believe he had choked on his vomit.
Stephen and Andy, 32, had left their £1million apartment near Port d'Anratx at 9.30pm on Saturday and headed to a bar in capital Palma.
They then moved on to the city's top gay club, the Black Cat.
A partygoer who shared a drink with them revealed they were drinking heavily.
He said: "Stephen was totally trashed."
SEND TRIBUTES TO STEPHEN GATELY HERE (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/mysun/2677294/Stephen-Gately-Your-tributes.html)
Stephen and Andy then met Giorgi Duchev.
He returned with them to the apartment at 4.30am.
Andy went off to bed at around 5.30am, leaving Stephen asleep on a sofa.
Strange
He found Stephen in a strange "prayer position" - squatting on the floor with his head face down on a pillow on the sofa - at around midday.
Andy frantically tried to revive his partner.
Cops were last night trying to trace Duchev.
A source said: "We do not believe there is foul play but his testimony is vital."
Stephen's Boyzone band mates, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch, arrived in Majorca last night.
A spokesman for Ronan said he was "totally devastated".
The group's manager Louis Walsh cancelled his appearance on last night's X Factor to be with Stephen's family.
Simon Cowell told viewers: "This is really, really tragic news. I want to send out my condolences."
The Sun
The 33-year-old, who rarely drank, was "totally trashed" during a night at a gay club on Majorca with civil partner Andy Cowles.
They were seen downing potent cocktails and white wine before meeting up with a 25-year-old Bulgarian and returning to their £1million apartment where they continued boozing.
Andy discovered Stephen dead next morning. Police believe he had choked on his vomit.
Stephen and Andy, 32, had left their £1million apartment near Port d'Anratx at 9.30pm on Saturday and headed to a bar in capital Palma.
They then moved on to the city's top gay club, the Black Cat.
A partygoer who shared a drink with them revealed they were drinking heavily.
He said: "Stephen was totally trashed."
SEND TRIBUTES TO STEPHEN GATELY HERE (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/mysun/2677294/Stephen-Gately-Your-tributes.html)
Stephen and Andy then met Giorgi Duchev.
He returned with them to the apartment at 4.30am.
Andy went off to bed at around 5.30am, leaving Stephen asleep on a sofa.
Strange
He found Stephen in a strange "prayer position" - squatting on the floor with his head face down on a pillow on the sofa - at around midday.
Andy frantically tried to revive his partner.
Cops were last night trying to trace Duchev.
A source said: "We do not believe there is foul play but his testimony is vital."
Stephen's Boyzone band mates, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch, arrived in Majorca last night.
A spokesman for Ronan said he was "totally devastated".
The group's manager Louis Walsh cancelled his appearance on last night's X Factor to be with Stephen's family.
Simon Cowell told viewers: "This is really, really tragic news. I want to send out my condolences."
The Sun