Bride and Prejudice star Micah Downey, 26, ‘died from drugs’, says counsellor

Bride and Prejudice star Micah Downey is believed to have died suddenly last month after taking a ‘mixture of illegal and prescription drugs’.

The young man’s drug counsellor, Jodi Barber, claimed that drugs were involved in his death in a Facebook post, according to The Daily Telegraph.

‘Micah’s parents don’t want this to happen to another young life,’ Ms Barber said. ‘They understand it was preventable!’

Sad loss: Bride and Prejudice star Micah Downey is believed to have died suddenly last month after taking a ‘mixture of illegal and prescription drugs’

Ms Barber, whose own son died of a heroin overdose years ago, had supposedly been trying to help Micah with his drug problem since 2014. 

He had apparent been prescribed ‘two different benzodiazepines’ to treat a heroin addiction, which she did not believe was the right course of action.

‘There has to be a better way to cope with anxiety and depression for those addicted to heroin,’ Ms Barber said.

‘Micah will never be forgotten and deeply missed. Prayers for his family.’

Micah Downey, died suddenly on Thursday at the age of 26. 

Devastating loss: Micah's ex-fiancée, Milly Johnson (pictured), who also featured on Bride and Prejudice, confirmed his tragic death on Tuesday

Devastating loss: Micah’s ex-fiancée, Milly Johnson (pictured), who also featured on Bride and Prejudice, confirmed his tragic death on Tuesday

His ex-fiancée, Milly Johnson, who also featured on Bride and Prejudice, shared the sad news with her Instagram followers on Tuesday.

‘It is so sad and unbelievably surreal that I am making this post. On the 28 December 2019 Micah Patrick Downey passed away,’ she wrote.

‘I am struggling to put into words how sad and heartbreaking this is, I just hope he is at peace wherever he is and that he will always be watching over his babies.

‘A bad, bad dream. I can’t believe you’re not here. Rest In Peace Micah.’ 

Her post was flooded with thousands of supportive comments from fans of the reality show. 

‘That’s absolutely awful news, hope you and your babies are okay,’ one person wrote. 

‘So sorry to hear about this. I’m sure wherever he is, he will be with his babies,’ another commented.  

Mr Downey had a son, Julian, as well as another child on the way with Ms Johnson before his tragic death.

The couple had cut ties while filming Bride and Prejudice and Mr Downey had moved back to America.

Channel Seven released a statement on Tuesday, saying: ‘The team at Bride and Prejudice is devastated by the news of the loss of Micah Downey. 

‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.’

After their split, Ms Johnson told her Instagram followers the pair ‘rarely spoke’, and announced she was pregnant with his child.

‘We are on speaking terms but rarely speak to one another,’ she said during a Q&A session on November 28.

‘I still have my days that I get sad as I think any parent would ideally love to raise their children with the other parent in a healthy relationship.’

Heartbreak: Ms Johnson and Mr Downey went on the Channel Seven reality show to repair their troubled relationship, but split before they were due to wed in November

Heartbreak: Ms Johnson and Mr Downey went on the Channel Seven reality show to repair their troubled relationship, but split before they were due to wed in November

She later admitted to feeling ‘anxious’ about becoming a single mother, but overall was finding her second pregnancy less ‘stressful’ than her first.

The pair went on Bride and Prejudice to repair their troubled relationship, but they split before walking down the aisle.

Ms Johnson called off her wedding to Mr Downey during an episode in November, after revealing she was worried that his use of alcohol and marijuana would be a bad influence on their son, Julian.

She said on the program: ‘He’s not well and he needs a lot of help and I feel for him because I do love him, but he’s just really made progress.

‘And I thought he had. I’m so sad because I don’t want Julian to grow up to be like that. He just doesn’t need a role model like that.’ 

Fears: Ms Johnson called off her wedding to Mr Downey during an episode in November, after revealing she was worried his use of alcohol and drugs would be a bad influence on their son

Fears: Ms Johnson called off her wedding to Mr Downey during an episode in November, after revealing she was worried his use of alcohol and drugs would be a bad influence on their son

During the same episode, Mr Downey attended the wedding of another couple on the show while Ms Johnson stayed at home. 

‘If you breathalysed me at this point you’d probably break the machine,’ he slurred to wedding guests. ‘Anger and alcohol is a good mix.’

He added that, instead of seeing Ms Johnson, he was ‘going to hang out with friends, have a little pot, smoke some weed and have a good time, Cali style.’  

'He needs help': Ms Johnson said of her then-fiancé on the show: 'He's not well and he needs a lot of help and I feel for him because I do love him'

‘He needs help’: Ms Johnson said of her then-fiancé on the show: ‘He’s not well and he needs a lot of help and I feel for him because I do love him’

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