Comments on: Autopsy: Boyzone singer died of natural causes

By: Drewski

Drewski — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:15:53 +0000

I know next to nothing about this guy, aside from what I’ve seen here and there on BBC’s website. His death is a loss on several levels. If he aspirated, that’s not dishonrable, it’s unfortunate that nobody was there to check it. Anybody ever had–even once–a time where you drank and you couldn’t remember everything? Anybody had–even once–a time when you fell asleep in front of TV, then were jolted awake ’cause you had saliva running down your windpipe?

There are so many people ready to remember him with love. Isn’t that right and appropriate? If Stephen’s death was the result of intoxication, then it is what it is. It doesn’t change him, it doesn’t change anyone or anything. Maybe it does change what we do around our friends.

In a way, it hits close. 20-ish year friend of one of my best friends was found dead in his apartment. Early Tuesday afternoon. He was a nice and successful guy.

Death takes people from our lives. Sometimes the cause of death will rally people. Sometimes it’s a crapshoot. Sometimes it’s predictable, and see above on that. Mr Gately deserves his adoration and his peace too. His husband and his family/families deserve the right to remember, mourn and celebrate him. How ’bout us tourists doin’ what we can for that? Isn’t that what we’d want for our own families?

By: Rick365

Rick365 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:58:25 +0000

Pulmonary edema may have been the mechanism, but it was not the cause. Most references I’ve seen to pulmonary edema indicate it is caused by an injury or disease – it does not just spontaneously happen.

By: Tom Greenwalt

Tom Greenwalt — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:42:21 +0000

A dear friend of mine died of pulmonary edema. She thought she had the flu the night before, but got up next morning went to work, collapsed and died. Sometimes things just go wrong.

By: toddinsf

toddinsf — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:18:31 +0000

Reports I’ve read elsewhere indicate that he died by choking to death on his own vomit. It’s sad that getting so drunk that you a) make yourself sick, & b) are blacked out & unable to awaken when you start to choke would be considered a ‘natural’ cause.

By: Dr. Peter

Dr. Peter — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:07:53 +0000

I am a physician for 39 years and I have serious doubts as to how a 33 years old white male would acquire “fluid on the lungs.” Known as pulmonary oedema. Do does NOT occur of it’s own accord, so something nefarious is going down here again. Respectfully

By: Drewski

Drewski — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:57:19 +0000

How does fluid just appear in the lungs? The average 33-year-old doesn’t just come back from the beach and die overnight from pulmonary edema. What’s the rest of the story? This isn’t about blame, or stirring up scandal. He obviously had a lot to live for, so what took him from the man and the family who loved him?

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:50:29 +0000

Rest in Peace, sweet Stephen. Boyzone’s version of “No Matter What” is a gay anthem.