The parents of former Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon have said their “hearts are broken” following her death aged 32.
The reality star, who appeared in the 2016 series of the ITV2 dating show, was found dead in Ponteland, Northumberland, last Wednesday.
Read more: Love Island stars pay tribute to Sophie Gradon
Her parents, Colin and Deborah Gradon, said in a statement to the Press Association: “It has been one week since we lost our precious daughter and we as a family are still coming to terms with our sudden loss.
“Our hearts are broken.
“We wish to say our goodbyes to Sophie in private so we ask that you respect our family’s privacy during this arduous time.”
A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said there were “not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death”.
A cause of death has not been revealed.
Sophie was named Miss Great Britain in 2009 and had been crowned Miss Newcastle the previous year.
Tributes poured in from her former Love Island co-stars, with one half of that year’s winning couple, Cara de la Hoyde, writing on Twitter that her “heart was broken”.
Love Island host Caroline Flack tweeted that Sophie was “such a beautiful soul… such a beautiful smile… thoughts and love with friends and family @sophiegradon.”
ITV said in a statement: “The whole ITV2 and Love Island team are profoundly saddened to hear the news about Sophie, and our deepest sympathies and thoughts go to her family and friends.”
The show paid tribute to Sophie ahead of last Thursday’s episode, by sharing a beautiful photo of Sophie on screen before the episode started.
Sophie’s journey in Love Island 2016 saw her couple up with both Tom Powell and Katie Salmon, making them the first same-sex pairing on the show.
Tom paid tribute via Instagram, sharing a throwback of himself and Sophie in happier times.
He wrote alongside the beautiful image: “Today has been one which we will never forget.. The world will truly be a different place without you.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkS9GbkDL3R/?hl=en&taken-by=iamthomaspowell
A devastated Katie said: “Your smile will be remembered forever. My thoughts are with your family, friends and loved ones at this horrendous time. Too young, too sweet, too kind.”
Sophie had been in a relationship with Aaron Armstrong at the time of her death, who paid tribute on Facebook with the message: “I will never forget that smile I love you so so much baby your my world forever ever and always (sic).”
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