Gately’s death remains mystery after postmortem

STEPHEN GATELY died of natural causes, the result of a build-up of fluid on his lungs, but mystery still surrounds the underlying cause of the pop star’s death.

As it was confirmed the Boyzone star will be buried in Dublin on Saturday, an inquest in Spain found he suffered acute pulmonary oedema after falling asleep on his living room sofa following a night out with husband Andy Cowles.

The mystery surrounding the death deepened after officials claimed it was not the result of an alcohol binge but offered no clues about the underlying cause of the oedema.

Earlier reports suggested the 33-year-old Dubliner choked to death on his own vomit after partying at a gay nightclub.

A police source said Gately had been sick in his Majorca holiday apartment.

But a court spokeswoman insisted after the postmortem results were made public: “Stephen’s death has nothing to do with any alcohol he drank that night, it has nothing to do with drugs, and he did not choke on his own vomit.

“If drink or drugs play any part in a death, they always put it in the cause of death. In this case they haven’t.”

She added: “I’m not saying Stephen didn’t vomit but I can categorically state he did not choke on his own vomit.”

Lung infections, smoke inhalation and adverse reactions to drugs ranging from aspirin to cocaine can cause pulmonary oedema. But most cases of the condition are related to heart failure and can be the first sign of coronary heart disease.

The claim led to speculation that he may have been suffering from an undetected medical problem.

Forensic experts in Majorca have sent body tissue samples to a laboratory in Barcelona for tests to confirm their findings.

The Spanish judge in charge of the inquiry into Gately’s death gave the go-ahead for his body to be sent back to Ireland.

His funeral will take place on Saturday at the Church of St Laurence O’Toole on Sheriff Street in Dublin, according to Boyzone manager Louis Walsh.

His remains will be brought home on Friday.