Witness describes finding Boyzone star's lifeless body

A man who was at Stephen Gately’s Majorca apartment the night he died today described seeing the Boyzone star’s lifeless body.

Georgi Dochev, 25, said the singer was “very cold and white”.

He told the Daily Mail: “I almost have not slept since this happened. I found Stephen dead and I woke his husband. I am still nervous and really upset.”

Bulgarian Mr Dochev is believed to have accompanied Gately and his partner, Andrew Cowles, back to the apartment in the resort of Port Andratx in the early hours of Saturday after a night out.

He confirmed he had spoken to police who are investigating the death.

Gately’s devastated bandmates, who flew out to the Spanish island yesterday, returned home tonight, a spokesman said.

He said: “All the boys are home now. They went there to pay their respects and start dealing with the fall-out of the situation. However, it’s clear that them being there at the moment is bringing a lot more attention to the situation.”

The band comforted a grieving Mr Cowles before they left the island.

Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch met him this afternoon at the Mon Port Hotel in Port Andratx where the band were staying.

Gately’s family remain in Ireland and today rejected claims that he died after a marathon drinking session.

A family spokesman said reports of “an eight-hour drinking session” were not true.

A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of Gately’s sudden death is due to take place tomorrow.

Spanish police said there were “no signs of suspicious circumstances” after Gately, 33, was found dead at his home on Saturday afternoon.

His bandmates spent an hour at Gately’s apartment yesterday before staying up late talking in a restaurant at their hotel.

They remained at the hotel for much of today and Mr Cowles arrived in a black people carrier at 1.15pm GMT (2.15pm local time).

The Gately family spokesman, lawyer Gerald Kean, spoke to the singer’s mother Margaret this morning, and said: “An eight-hour drinking session is something we do not accept.

“Wherever that is coming from, our information would suggest that is simply wrong.”

Relatives insisted his death was a “tragic accident” and that no foul play was involved.

Mr Kean said the family were absolutely devastated and had been too upset to decide whether to fly out to the Mediterranean island.

The solicitor said Gately had been in the apartment with Mr Cowles until after midnight on Friday when he travelled to the town of Palma, about an hour’s drive away.

A close family member spoke to Gately at 12.30am Spanish time on Saturday (11.30pm GMT) as he was getting ready to leave, the lawyer said.

It is understood Gately spent several hours socialising and was back in the apartment before 6am Spanish time.

“We are not saying he was not drinking but eight hours is not something we accept,” Mr Kean said.

“He was a very sensible man. He enjoyed himself, he loved life. I was with him many a night and, if anything, late into nights he would look as though he had just arrived.”

Police said Gately had been partying with friends a few hours before he was found dead in his apartment.

His body remains in a forensics institute in Palma until a post-mortem which they hope will shed light on exactly how he died, a police spokesman said.

Mr Kean said police told Gately’s family they are not looking to speak to anyone else in connection with the death.

Keating, Duffy, Graham and Lynch led tributes saying they were “completely devastated by the loss of our friend and brother, Stephen”.

Boyzone manager Louis Walsh pulled out of last night’s X Factor live finals show, saying he was “very shocked and exceptionally upset”.

Gately, who joined Boyzone in 1993 after answering an advert in Dublin to audition for Ireland’s first boyband, sent ripples through the pop music world 10 years ago when he announced he was gay.

He was introduced to Mr Cowles by Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish and the pair married in a civil union in 2006.

Gately last posted a message on his Twitter page on October 6, writing: “Still busy, lots going on. Focusing on finishing my book next so may be quiet here.”

Scores of devastated fans have posted tributes on the singer’s Facebook page and outside Gately’s sea-view villa, mourners left flowers.

One note with the flowers read: “For Stephen, God bless you, rest in peace. Although we didn’t know you personally, we admired and liked you as a person, not just your talent.

“Sue and Dave. PS. Deepest sympathy to you Andrew.”

Gately was often spotted locally, relaxing in the upmarket Cappuccino cafe and was recently seen dining with singer Chesney Hawkes in the pricey Portobello restaurant, British ex-pats recalled.

Mark Kirsch, 49, a travel agent from Bushey, Hertfordshire, has a holiday apartment in a block nearby and said he had met the singer.

“He was a private guy who kept himself to himself. He definitely wasn’t living a wild rock’n’roll lifestyle here. There were no wild parties, nothing like that at all.”

Gately seemed in good health recently, he added.

Mr Kean said Gately was in very good form when relatives spoke to him on Friday night. He said the singer was healthy and described him as being “in great shape”.

“He really had a wonderful life. He was the most generous young man you could meet – anytime I or anyone else ever asked him to support charities or less well-off causes he did it with a smile,” Mr Kean said.

“I never heard a bad word being said about him.”