Model Lenoir on the mend after alleged suicide bid

MODEL Noemie Lenoir is on the mend following her apparent suicide bid, it was disclosed yesterday.

The former face of Marks & Spencer – who has been in an on-off relationship with ex-Chelsea footballer Claude Makelele – was discovered by a dog walker in some woods in an exclusive Paris suburb on Sunday afternoon.

She was drinking alcohol and had taken an overdose of pills at Makelele’s £1 million (€1.17m) house, according to police.

A source close to the French model said yesterday: “Everything is ok now. She needs some rest but she’s ok.”

She is expected to continue working with her model agency, Elite Paris, once she is fully recovered.

Clothing chain Next, for whom Lenoir has modelled for about 10 years on and off, would continue to work with her “as the opportunity arises”, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

L’Oreal, which has also used the model in its advertising, said the company was supporting her “in this personal matter”.

A spokesman said: “We are completely saddened by her hospitalisation.”

Musician Myleene Klass, who starred in M&S adverts alongside Lenoir, was upbeat about her chances of coming through the ordeal.

Speaking to reporters on the red carpet outside the Classical Brit Awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall, she said: “I’ve sent her my well wishes and all we can hope is that people just respect what is obviously a very difficult time for her family and for herself.

“Noemie is a strong, wonderful girl and of course it’s very sad, but she’s a fighter.”

The model called emergency services from Makelele’s house, but telephoned again to cancel her request for an ambulance, local reports said.

Several hours after leaving the footballer’s home she was found unconscious in woods in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, on the western outskirts of the capital, and was taken to the Saint-Germain-en-Laye hospital. The hospital said she had been transferred to a different institution on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old beauty was reportedly in a relationship with Carl Hirschmann, 29, a Swiss millionaire facing allegations of sexual offences in Switzerland. He denies all the allegations, but his bail terms include an order to stay in Switzerland.