Post by David on Oct 27, 2008 18:34:56 GMT 10
AUSTRALIAN Idol alumni, including Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll, are united in grief over the weekend death of their Series One partner, Levi Kereama.
As the family of the 23-year-old R&B singer mourned his death, those who shared the stage with him during the first series of the reality show also expressed their sadness.
Police are treating Kereama's shock death as suicide after he fell from the balcony of a Brisbane hotel room, but yesterday his distraught family said he was a, "happy, outgoing, lively and loving friend, brother, son, uncle and cousin".
The family is reported to believe Kereama's death was a tragic accident and has rejected reports he was suffering depression.
Original Idol winner Guy Sebastian, who was in Queensland performing when told of his friend's death late yesterday, was too devastated to comment when contacted by The Daily Telegraph.
Sebastian, who lost his brother-in-law to suicide this year, was understood to be desperately trying to contact and comfort Kereama's family last night.
Yesterday, Australian Idol series one runner-up Shannon Noll said he was "deeply shocked by the news" of Kereama's death.
"My heart goes out to his family," Noll said. Similar sentiments were offered on last night's show by hosts Andrew G and James Mathison, who paid tribute to the entrant's time on the talent show back in 2003.
Police are continuing their investigations into Kereama's death, but said it was being treated as a, "sudden, but non-suspicious death."
Kereama, who performed in his family's band Lethbridge, was found on the ground level of an inner-city Brisbane high rise about 10.30pm on Saturday night, half an hour after Parklife music festival - where he performed - had finished.
Guests told police they saw the young singer plunge to his death from an upper-floor room.
The second celebrity suicide in little more than a month, after All Saints actor Mark Priestley plunged to his death from the balcony of a Sydney hotel on August 27, has raised concern for the mental health services for men.
Yesterday Professor Ian Hickie of the Brain and Mind Research Institute called for mental health services to head online to connect with people who suffer from depression.
Eight of the top ten health problems found in young men were related to mental health, he said.
As the family of the 23-year-old R&B singer mourned his death, those who shared the stage with him during the first series of the reality show also expressed their sadness.
Police are treating Kereama's shock death as suicide after he fell from the balcony of a Brisbane hotel room, but yesterday his distraught family said he was a, "happy, outgoing, lively and loving friend, brother, son, uncle and cousin".
The family is reported to believe Kereama's death was a tragic accident and has rejected reports he was suffering depression.
Original Idol winner Guy Sebastian, who was in Queensland performing when told of his friend's death late yesterday, was too devastated to comment when contacted by The Daily Telegraph.
Sebastian, who lost his brother-in-law to suicide this year, was understood to be desperately trying to contact and comfort Kereama's family last night.
Yesterday, Australian Idol series one runner-up Shannon Noll said he was "deeply shocked by the news" of Kereama's death.
"My heart goes out to his family," Noll said. Similar sentiments were offered on last night's show by hosts Andrew G and James Mathison, who paid tribute to the entrant's time on the talent show back in 2003.
Police are continuing their investigations into Kereama's death, but said it was being treated as a, "sudden, but non-suspicious death."
Kereama, who performed in his family's band Lethbridge, was found on the ground level of an inner-city Brisbane high rise about 10.30pm on Saturday night, half an hour after Parklife music festival - where he performed - had finished.
Guests told police they saw the young singer plunge to his death from an upper-floor room.
The second celebrity suicide in little more than a month, after All Saints actor Mark Priestley plunged to his death from the balcony of a Sydney hotel on August 27, has raised concern for the mental health services for men.
Yesterday Professor Ian Hickie of the Brain and Mind Research Institute called for mental health services to head online to connect with people who suffer from depression.
Eight of the top ten health problems found in young men were related to mental health, he said.