Elton John has led tributes to Stephen Gately, saying he was the "kindest, gentlest soul".

The 33-year-old Boyzone singer died on October 10, 2009 while on holiday in Majorca. Elton said: "David and I are stunned by this tragedy. Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul. We send our love and condolences to his partner Andy and to all his friends everywhere."

A spokesman for former Boyzone member Ronan Keating said the star was "totally devastated" and was on his way back from the United States at the moment. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern paid tribute to Gately, who he knew, on the BBC's Andrew Marr show. He said: "The Gatelys are in my own constituency. I know the family, I know Stephen.

"Ronan Keating is a very good friend of my daughter's, my family. He (Gately) was with us the other night with his boyfriend Andy, he came to my book launch." Mr Ahern, whose daughter Georgina is married to Nicky Byrne of boyband Westlife, continued: "It's just such a tragedy."

Gately "tragically died" on October 10, 2009 while visiting the island of Mallorca, the band said in a brief statement. The cause of death was not immediately clear. Gerald Kean, a Gately family friend in Ireland, said he the singer died of natural causes, without identifying them.

"There's no foul play involved, and it's not suicide. It's just a tragic accident is what we've been told, and we're happy that that is correct information," Kean said. "There is nothing untoward. It's not drugs, we don't believe. It's not suicide. It's not murder. It's not a fight. That's what we've been told."

Kean said an autopsy was expected to be conducted on October 13, 2009.

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