The parents of tragic Love Island star Sophie Gradon have spoken out to deny she was involved in a suicide pact with her boyfriend and two of his pals.
Referring to boyfriend Aaron Armstrong only by his surname, Colin and Deborah Gradon say they had never met him and he and Sophie had only been together five weeks.
Mr and Mrs Gradon said in a statement that any suggestion of a pact between their ‘darling daughter,’ Aaron and two other young men, brothers Darryl and Dylan Smith, was ‘malicious and cruel.’
Love Island star Sophie Gradon’s parents have denied she was in a suicide pact with her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong and his two friends. Pictured: Sophie and Aaron
Mr and Mrs Gradon said in a statement any suggestion of a pact between their ‘darling daughter,’ Aaron and two other young men, brothers Darryl and Dylan Smith, is ‘malicious and cruel.’ Pictured: Darryl, left, and Dylan, right
The friends all grew up in and around the seaside town on Blyth, Northumberland, and appear to have taken their lives within a month of each other
Last week Darryl and Dylan Smith’s dad Billy told Mail Online all four knew each other and grew up in Blyth, Northumberland.
Mr Smith said: ‘They were all friends, they had grown up together. ‘They’d known each other all of their lives. It’s simply tragic they have all died within such a short space of time.
‘These deaths highlight the fact there is a mental health epidemic among young people. There needs to be more help out there. The problem is it’s not spoken about.
‘It’s a cultural thing, especially among young men, they do not open up. Things need to change. Schools should teach about mental health more, and young people should be encouraged to open up.’
Colin and Deborah Gradon, of Medburn, Northumberland, said on Thursday: ‘Having recently read so many inaccurate reports surrounding the sorrowful passing of brothers Darryl and Dylan Smith, we feel bound to amend the mistakes made.
Sophie’s death, thought to be a suicide, garnered hundred of tributes before she was laid to rest in her native Newcastle. Pictured: Aaron and Sophie together
Dozens of supercars congregated at a coastal beauty spot last night to pay tribute to Aaron Armstong, who was found dead just three weeks after his Love Island star girlfriend Sophie Gaddon apparently killed herself
‘Our daughter Sophie had never met and did not know either of the brothers. Sophie did not ”grow up” with them and has never lived in Blyth.
‘Sophie spent an idyllic childhood in Gosforth, Newcastle, and then moved at the age of 10 to Ponteland in Northumberland.
‘Sophie told us she had just met someone new and had been on a lunch date with him. She was excited at the prospect of starting a new relationship and it was her fullest intention to introduce us to him when the time was right.
‘At the time of Sophie’s sudden and tragic passing, she had only been involved with Armstrong for five weeks. To imply that there was some kind of pact between the Smith brothers, Armstrong and our darling daughter is both malicious and cruel.
‘However, we do offer our heartfelt sympathy to the Smith family at this distressing time.’
Tributes poured in after Sophie died at the age of 32.
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’
Over the years Sophie has juggled positions in marketing and recruitment with working as a model and reality TV star
The former Miss Newcastle, who was later crowned Miss Great Britain in 2009 and later appeared in the 2016 series of ITV2 Love Island, was found at the family home in Medburn, Ponteland, on June 22.
Nine days earlier barber Darryl Smith, 27, was found dead at his home in Blyth.
Then on July 10, Sophie’s distraught boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, 25, who had attended Darryl’s funeral, was found dead at his home in Blyth shortly after writing ‘I will see u very soon my angel’ on social media.
Finally, on July 15, Dylan Smith, Darryl’s younger brother, was found dead aged 22, days after telling mourners his brother was his ‘best friend, brother and father figure’.
Northumbria Police have said that none of their deaths are being treated as suspicious.
Loved ones honoured him last night with a ‘car meet’ on the eve of his funeral. Hundreds of heartbroken friends gathered by Blyth Beach to share memories and celebrate the petrolhead’s love for all things ‘adrenaline’
Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and a Rolls Royce Phantom were among the supercars to gather in Mermaid Car Park by the beach
The event was organised by Ryan Gallagher, who had been close friends with Aaron for a decade after meeting in a gym
The Gradon’s comments comes after dozens of supercars congregated at a coastal beauty spot last night to pay tribute to Armstong.
Loved ones honoured him last night with a ‘car meet’ on the eve of his funeral. Hundreds of heartbroken friends gathered by Blyth Beach to share memories and celebrate the petrolhead’s love for all things ‘adrenaline’.
Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and a Rolls Royce Phantom were among the supercars to gather in Mermaid Car Park by the beach.
The event was organised by Ryan Gallagher, who had been close friends with Aaron for a decade after meeting in a gym.
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