Sophie Gradon's parents slam 'malicious' rumours of suicide pact in statement over 'darling daughter's' death

Tragic: former Miss Great Britain and former Love Island star Sophie Gradon died at the age of 32
PA
Chloe Chaplain26 July 2018
The Weekender

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The parents of former Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon who was found dead aged 32 have spoken out to deny that her death was the result of a suicide pact between her and three others.

Gradon, who appeared on the popular ITV show in 2016, was found dead at her parents’ home in June, weeks before her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong died at his home in Northumberland.

Days before Gradon’s death, 27-year-old Darryl Smith, was found dead at his home in Blyth and his younger brother, 22-year-old Dylan, also died in July.

The father of Darryl and Dylan told the media the four knew each other well and there were suggestions of a tragic suicide pact. But this has been vehemently denied by Gradon’s parents.

Tragic: Aaron and Sophie
Aaron Armstrong/Instagram

Colin and Deborah Gradon issued a statement to say that they had never met their daughter’s boyfriend and that it was a new relationship.

They also said that Gradon did not know Dylan and Darryl and said that suggesting there had been some kind of pact was “malicious and cruel”.

In the statement to the Newcastle Chronicle, Mr and Mrs Gradon said: “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.

“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.

Sophie: The former Love Island contestant was found dead at her parents home
ITV

“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.”

Last week Darryl and Dylan Smith's dad Billy told Mail Online the four were “all friends” who had “grown up together” in Northumberland.

“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,” he said.

He said the four deaths “highlight the fact there is a mental health epidemic among young people”.

On June 13, Darryl Smith was found dead at his home in Blyth.

Gradon, the former Miss Newcastle, was found at the family home in Medburn, Ponteland, on June 22.

On July 10, a distraught Armstrong, 25, was found dead at his home in Blyth after posting on social media about seeing his “angel” girlfriend again “very soon”.

Five days later Dylan also died.

Northumbria Police have said that none of their deaths are being treated as suspicious.

If you have been affected by any of the issues that have been highlighted in this story you can seek confidential support at samaritans.org or on their free helpline 116123. For more information about accessing support click here.

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