Ian Thorpe’s ex-boyfriend, Ryan Channing, has been remembered by family and friends at an intimate funeral ceremony – more than a month after he died from a suspected prescription mediation overdose in Bali.
The 32-year-old collapsed inside a villa on the Indonesian holiday island on May 6 while holidaying with family.
Two days later, he passed away in the intensive care unit at BIMC Hospital in Kuta.
His body was repatriated back to Perth ahead of the memorial service at the picturesque Pinaroo Valley Memorial Park in Padbury, in the city’s northern suburbs, on Friday morning.
The beauty entrepreneur’s brother Jake and mother Joy used social media to alert loved ones to the service earlier in the week.
‘We would love all that knew him to help us celebrate his life. Everyone who knew him and knew of him through others,’ the post read.
While many flocked to the service to say their emotional goodbyes, there was no sign of his former Olympian ex-lover.
His white casket arrived ahead of the ceremony – adorned with a white and purple bouquet.
Channing was Ian Thorpe’s first long-term boyfriend after publicly coming out (pictured together in 2018)
Pictured: Mourners arrive at Ryan Channing’s funeral on Friday morning. One woman carries a wreath
Ryan Channing was a model and beauty entrepreneur before he suddenly died at the age of 32 in early May. Pictured: Friends arriving at his funeral on Friday
People who knew and loved Ryan Channing greet each other with hugs ahead of the memorial
A celebration of his life continued at the Joondalup members golf club in Connolly following the funeral.
Channing was Ian Thorpe’s first long-term boyfriend after publicly coming out.
The pair were in an on-again, off-again relationship for four years until finally separating in 2019.
Two weeks after the tragic death, Thorpe broke his silence.
‘This is a relationship that I had that was a long-term relationship and I feel for Ryan’s family,’ the retired Olympian told The Daily Telegraph.
‘I hope people are able to respect their privacy as well. I think when it is someone that is so young, it is tragic for anyone to see them passing at that kind of age.’
While Channing’s cause of death is yet to be confirmed, Indonesian police have said the 32-year-old died of an overdose of prescription medication.
Ryan Channing split his time between Bali and Australia. Pictured: Friends and family arriving at the funeral service on Friday
Channing ran his own beauty company, Blaq. Pictured: People arriving at his funeral
Ian Thorpe’s ex-boyfriend Ryan Channing 9pictured) died two days after collapsing in a Balinese villa
Channing’s sister Charis (top centre) posted a family picture four days before his funeral. Ryan Channing is pictured bottom centre, next to his brother Jake
Channing’s mother Joy, who was by his bedside during his final two days, issued a statement on social media thanking friends for their support just days after her son’s passing.
‘Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming love and support you have shown to us through this tragic time in our lives,’ she posted on Instagram.
‘We are still in Bali but hope to be able to home (sic) soon.’
Channing’s skincare line, The Blaq Group, issued a statement shortly after his death noting he battled health issues.
Channing’s sister Charis said accepting his death was ‘the hardest thing’ her family had ever had to do.
Kuta police were not treating Channing’s death as suspicious and no report had been filed – standard practice given he died in hospital.
Last week, Ryan Channing’s brother Jake posted a photo of them together (pictured) with the caption ‘forever’
Locals in Bali set up a memorial on a beach in the days following his death. Pictured: A banner that reads ‘We love you Ryan’
A medical team from Canggu Clinic stabilised Channing inside the villa compound before rushing him to the BIMC Hospital in Kuta (pictured)
The model split his time between Bali, Australia and the United States for business, but he flew to Bali two weeks before his death to meet with his parents and sister.
Earlier, his family had attended a makeshift memorial at a Kuta restaurant.
‘Ryan lived life to the fullest,’ Mrs Channing said in a tribute to her son.
‘Constantly surrounded by excitement and creativity, with an undeniable drive to seek perfection in everything.
His mother Joy Channing posted a family photo after his death with the caption, ‘Family’. Pictured, left to right: Ryan Channing’s grandparents, Ryan, his mother Joy and father Steve, sister Charis and brother Jake
Ryan Channing was reportedly weak and fainting at his villa (pictured) before he was taken to hospital on May 6
‘To be part of Ryan’s world, and to be swept up in his adventures and triumphs was a privilege for all of us.
‘We will need time to comprehend how we will navigate the rest of our lives without his physical presence around us’.
Mr and Mrs Channing were pictured at Mano Beach House surrounded by eight close friends for a dinner to remember the 32-year-old.
‘#ryanchanningmemorial’, one friend wrote on the post.
A second tribute was also held on the sand of Kuta beach, where lanterns were lit and friends held a banner with Channing’s face.
‘We love you – Ryan Matthew Channing’, the banner read.
Ryan Channing’s parents (centre) joined some of his Balinese friends for a memorial dinner just three days after his death
Charis Channing (left) says she’s heartbroken over the loss of her brother Ryan (right)
His shock death was announced on Instagram in early May by his younger brother Jake.
‘Seeing as the news headlines beat my whole family to posting about this unfortunate time in our lives, it’s with a heavy heart I announce that my brother Ryan has recently passed away on Sunday the 8th of May at 32 years of age,’ Jake wrote.
‘As we seek answers and try come to terms with the heartbreaking loss of my beautiful big brother, we ask for your prayers, support and privacy, he will be forever loved, never forgotten and forever young.
‘To my big brother, I love you, I’ll see you one day soon you’ll be missed more than you know.’
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