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Boyzone star Stephen Gately died.

A post-mortem is due to be carried out this week to determine how Boyzone star Stephen Gately died.The Irish singer died suddenly at the age of 33 while on holiday in Majorca on the weekend.A spokesman for Gately's family attributed his death to natural causes and ruled out drugs and suicide.

Gately's bandmates, who arrived in Majorca on Sunday night, described him as "our friend and brother" and said he "lit up our lives".

Boyzone manager Louis Walsh pulled out of Sunday's X Factor show, where judge Simon Cowell paid tribute to Gately.

"This is really tragic news," he said. "Our thoughts are with Louis - they were incredibly close."

Gately was on holiday with his long-term partner Andy Cowles.

It is believed he died after falling asleep on a sofa after a night out with his partner. The couple are understood to have returned to their luxury holiday apartment with another man.

Monday is a public holiday in Spain and so the post mortem is expected to begin on Tuesday.

Gately's boy band enjoyed huge success in the 1990s, scoring six UK number one singles.

They reformed in 2007 before embarking on a string of comeback concerts and were planning to release a new album next year.

Gately was introduced to his partner by Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish, and married in a civil partnership in 2006.

A statement from the four remaining members of Boyzone said: "We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more.

"Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. Our love and sympathy go out to Andrew and Stephen's family. We love you and will miss you forever."
Gately died in his apartment complex in Port Andratx, Majorca

Irish solicitor Gerald Kean, a spokesman for Gately's family, said: "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.

"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."

The family hope to have the remains returned to Ireland by the end of the week for the funeral in Dublin, he added.

Police said they were called to a house near Port d'Andratx on the western tip of the island on Saturday afternoon.

"At the moment it is not known how he died," a police spokesman said. "There are no signs of suspicious circumstances."