Aussie Big Brother contestant dies in China

[Proud Pies]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/big-brother-contestant-dies-in-china/2007/09/13/1189276892284.html


Big Brother contestant dies in China



September 13, 2007 - 7:02PM


Big Brother contestant and Iraq War human shield volunteer Gordon Sloan has died in mysterious circumstances in a Chinese hospital.

Donna Mulhearn, a friend of the 34-year-old New Zealand-born Australian, said the Beijing hospital turned off Mr Sloan's life support yesterday.

Ms Mulhearn said she would not speculate on the cause of her friend's death, including rumours it was drug related.

She worked with Mr Sloan as a human shield in Baghdad for several months in 2003 and the pair set up a shelter for homeless children in the Iraq capital.

"I was absolutely shocked to hear about his death but not surprised it was overseas while he was travelling. I read the email from his mate and was stunned," Ms Mulhearn said.

"I thought he was invincible. He was so big and strong. Big in so many ways too, physically, personality and his heart.

"He was fearless and I thought nothing would get him."

Mr Sloan worked as an architect before appearing on the first series of the reality television show Big Brother in 2001.

A service will be held in Randwick, in Sydney's east, next week when his body returns to Australia from China, Ms Mulhearn said.

"He was a hero. He was dedicated to 20 Iraqi street kids and risked his life to document and film life in Baghdad. His detractors, because of Big Brother, just didn't know him," she said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed the death of a 34-year-old New Zealand-born Australian man from Victoria.

"The man died in a Beijing hospital (on) September 12 and consular staff are currently assisting the family," a DFAT spokesman said.

[Dave The Man]

Who was he?

[Proud Pies]

from the 1st big brother series

[Dave The Man]

Thanks for that

[Brewer's Droop]

np

[Brewer's Droop]

np

[member34258]

No mystery.
Overdose.

[Proud Pies]

apparently so.