The boyfriend of Love Island star Sophie Gradon who committed suicide the day after her funeral was taunted by trolls hours before his death.
Aaron Armstrong, 25, was found dead at his home yesterday after it emerged he tried to take his own life four years ago.
His family say they are ‘devastated’ at the news which comes just weeks after his girlfriend Sophie hanged herself.
In the hours before his death, the boxer, from Blyth, Northumberland, revealed he was saved four years ago by his brother who found him.
Aaron Armstrong, 25, was devastated by the death of his girlfriend, a former Miss GB, who is believed to have taken her own life aged 32.
Aaron was responding to a bully on Instagram who accused him of attention-seeking.
He responded: ‘I found her. I took my own life 4 years ago and got took down by my brother. You know nothing you stupid f***ing ****.
‘I make my choice like she did. I’ve been fighting this for 10 years. Go f*** yourself. This post I’m talking to her, not any of you. Scum bag people like you drive people to suicide. Hope u happy.’
Aaron Armstrong, 25, was devastated by the death of his girlfriend, a former Miss GB, at the age of 32.
It was Aaron who discovered his girlfriend’s body at her parents’ home near Newcastle on June 22.
Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious, suggesting they both took their own lives.
Aaron Armstrong’s father David, 54, said from their large family home in Blyth, Northumberland: ‘We are devastated and Aaron was an amazing lad.’
His elder brother Ryan, 27, said: ‘All we can do is take one day at a time, it’s been a very hard time. ‘We’ll make a statement at some point but now isn’t the right time.’
He said the family would be releasing a statement later in the week.
Posting on social media in the days before his own death, Aaron made reference to seeing Sophie again, writing: ‘I will never stop loving u and my heart will be yours until the day I join you I will see u very soon my angel so keep are [sic] bed warm for me’.
Sophie, who appeared on Love Island in 2016, had a secret battle with depression and was devastated when a close friend died recently. It appears Aaron had been unable to cope without her.
Posting on social media in the run-up to his death, Aaron made reference to seeing Sophie again, writing: ‘I will never stop loving u and my heart will be yours until the day I join you I will see u very soon my angel so keep are bed warm for me’
Sophie’s death, thought to be a suicide, garnered hundred of tributes before she was laid to rest in her native Newcastle on Friday. Pictured: The couple together
In Aaron’s final post on Instagram, he said missed his girlfriend every day, adding: ‘I love you princess’
The family of current Love Island star Georgia Steel joined presenter Maya Jama in mourning Aaron’s tragic death.
Posting to Georgia’s Facebook account, her representatives wrote: ‘RIP to both angels’, also asking her followers to be ‘a little bit kinder every day’.
Maya told her followers to ‘be careful how you treat people online and in real life’ while adding that she was ‘heartbroken’ by the news.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: ‘At around 12.20pm today police received a report from the ambulance service that a 25-year-old man had been found deceased at a property on Furnace Road in Bebside, Blyth.
‘There is not believed to be any third party involvement and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.’
Aaron had poured his heart out on social media since her death.
He wrote: ‘I will never forget that smile I love you so so much baby your my world forever ever and always.’
Devastated friends took to social media to pay tribute to Aaron (pictured with Sophie) today after news of his death spread online
Presenter Maya Jama – the girlfriend of Stormzy – said she was also heartbroken to hear that ‘Aaron has taken his life’
Georgia Steel, who is currently on this year’s version of Love Island, said she was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ that Aaron ‘took his own life’
Sophie’s death, thought to be a suicide, garnered hundreds of tributes before she was laid to rest in her native Newcastle on Friday.
Friends, family and boyfriend Aaron gathered to say goodbye to ‘beautiful Sophie’.
Devastated friends took to social media to pay tribute to Aaron today after news of his death spread online.
Michael McCready posted on Facebook: ‘Very sad day today to find out, that Aaron Armstrong has passed away. RIP pal. You’re now with Sophie, sending my love and thoughts to all family and friends at this hard time.’
Friends, family and boyfriend Aaron gathered to say goodbye to ‘beautiful Sophie’ at her funeral on Friday. Now Aaron has reportedly been found dead
Friends, family and boyfriend Aaron gathered to say goodbye to ‘beautiful Sophie’ on Friday. Pictured: Aaron posting about the funeral
Sophie, wearing her Miss Great Britain crown, is pictured in Covent Garden, London in 2009
️Jill Sayer posted on Facebook: ‘Omg I’m in total shock…. rip Aaron Armstrong reunited in the sky’.
Caitlin Peachey posted on Twitter: ‘Can’t even begin to imagine what Sophie gradon and Aaron Armstrong’s families must be going trough. 2 deaths on two week RIP Aaron.’
Jessica Hayley-Marie posted on Twitter: ‘Absolutely heartbreaking news about Aaron Armstrong. I hope you & @sophiegradon are somewhere living it up together once again RIP’.
Kay posted on Twitter: ‘Wow..RIP Aaron Armstrong I hope you and Sophie fly high together so so sad to hear this’.
The inquest into Sophie’s death was opened on June 27 during a very short hearing at North Tyneside Coroners Court on June 27.
It is believed Sophie was suffering from mental health problems
At the hearing, which lasted less than a minute, the case was adjourned.
It is believed Sophie, who appeared on ITV’s reality TV show Love Island in 2016 and also worked as a model, had been struggling with mental health problems in the run up to her death.
During the hearing Trever Carroll, Assistant Coroner for South Northumberland, said: ‘Following initial inquiries it is appropriate to open an inquest into her death.
‘(I will) adjourn at this stage for further inquiries to determine cause of death.’
None of Sophie’s friends or family was present at the hearing.
Following her death, the owner of Tyne Tees Models, Lesley Lister, who scouted the star when she was just 16, said: ‘Despite her success she was humble. It didn’t matter what job she did for us, whether big or small, she approached it in the same way.
‘She was also a great mentor to the younger girls. If any of them were having problems she would take the time to talk to them, and try and help. She would make people feel much better.
‘Everyone absolutely loved her. She was a beautiful girl, but clever with it.
‘I first spotted her on a night out when she was 16. I went over and spoke to her and she was gorgeous, very enthusiastic.
Over the years Sophie has juggled positions in marketing and recruitment with working as a model and reality TV star
Sophie was a star on ITV2’s reality TV show Love Island. Before that she was Miss Great Britain and a model
‘She became part of the Tyne Tees family and the rest is history.
‘Sophie knew exactly what she wanted and went for it.
‘We were all incredibly proud of what she achieved. She was our first ever Miss Newcastle and our first ever Miss Great Britain.’
Sophie attended the prestigious Dame Allan’s School in Fenham, Newcastle, where fees are around £4,400 per term. She graduated from Northumbria University with a 2:1 in Media, Culture & Society in 2007.
Over the years Sophie has juggled positions in marketing and recruitment with working as a model and reality TV star.
Dr John Hind, principal of Dame Allan’s Schools, paid tribute to Sophie after her death, saying: ‘Staff who recall Sophie remember her as a fun loving, happy pupil who enlivened the schools and we all regret her sad passing at such a young age.’