Celebrity Big Brother’s Heavy D was found dead on his kitchen floor

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Celebrity Big Brother star Heavy D was found dead on his kitchen floor by his worried brothers after a suspected heart attack.

They went to his home when he vanished after visiting costume designer friend Lorna Onabanjo in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on November 14.

The former Storage Hunters UK buyer, real name Colin Newell, 47, had been ‘missing for two weeks’ before he was found. 

Ms Onabanjo told MailOnline: ‘I was the last to see him alive. 

‘We spent the night playing Monopoly and singing Karaoke and having a few drinks. 

‘He was feeling a bit down because suddenly a lot of people who hadn’t spoken to him in years were coming out of the woodwork trying to be his friend again after learning he was going to be in a movie with Vinnie Jones. 

‘He also didn’t know what his next project was going to be so it was a come down after all the hype and excitement. 

‘On the one hand, he felt he had really smashed it in the part he was given and Vinnie Jones told him he was great, but he was down about not knowing what was going to come next. 

‘I did my best to raise his spirits but then he went home and no one ever heard of him again. 

‘His family contacted me this morning because they’d been unable to contact him. 

‘He usually saturates social media but there had been nothing for days. 

‘Some of his brothers went around to his home in North London and they saw his body through a window on the kitchen floor. 

‘At the moment it’s suspected he died of a heart attack but we won’t know until after a post mortem. 

‘He was a big kid, and I’m really going to miss him.’ 

Today Heavy D’s ex girlfriend Bryony Harris, who had a child with him, said she was beside herself with grief at the news of his death.

She wrote: ‘Heartbroken. I loved this man we argued we hated each other but we had love at one point and a beautiful daughter rest in peace you silly thing.’ 

His brother, David Newell, told MailOnline: ‘He was a larger than life character and we will really miss him.

‘We only heard this morning that he was dead and are still processing it. We’re all having a drink to remember him because that’s how he would have wanted it.’

The large family gathered at Mr Newell’s North London home to enjoy a drink and share fond memories of Heavy D.

Mr Newell revealed that Heavy D was found dead at his North London home by one of his brothers but would not reveal his name.

He said: ‘I hadn’t heard from Heavy D for about two weeks. Normally he’s constantly on social media but he wasn’t posting anything and that’s what got us worried.

‘He hadn’t gone missing, he was just holed up at home not contacting anyone.’

Mr Newell revealed that after becoming concerned about Heavy D one of the brothers went to check on him, finding him dead on Wednesday morning.

He added: ‘I got a call at about 11am and I’m still trying to come to terms with it. I can’t believe he’s gone.

‘It’s going to take a long time to sink in. Heavy D was a colourful character and a big part of our family. He had a lot to say and had a lot of energy. His death has left a big hole in our lives.’ 

His former personal trainer, Matt Fiddes, said he believed that lockdown’s closure of gyms would have been ‘tough’ on Heavy D. 

Taking to Instagram he wrote: ‘Gutted to hear my former client and friend Heavy D (Colin Newell) best known for his appearance in Celebrity Big Brother and Storage Hunters has died so young.

‘He was on a real mission to improve his health and was making amazing progress. Getting into boxing and eating clean. And training so hard.

‘I would imagine the closure of gyms and fitness facilities was tough on him for his physical and mental health. He lived for the progress he was making and his fight nights.

‘Such a pleasure to be with and so nice to all my instructors and students. He always took the time out to greet them all.

‘Totally shocked! One of the funniest men I have ever known and a pleasure to train and try and keep on track. Which was not easy at times!!

‘RIP my friend.’ 

His actor friend Nick Nevern, 39, wrote: ‘I’m very shocked & saddened to hear of the passing of my friend @HeavyHeavyd. U lived ur life the way u wanted to & f*** anyone who didn’t like it! 

‘U always brought a smile to my face bro & lifted any room you where in. #RIPHeavyD.’ [sic]. 

A family friend told The Mirror: ‘Colin had been missing for two weeks before his death.’ 

Heavy D last posted on Instagram and Twitter on November 14, writing about boxing and hoping to meet a partner on a dating app. 

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Heavy D for further information. 

Heavy D, who weighed in at 23 stone, shot to fame after appearing as a buyer on the UK version of Storage Hunters.  

In August 2016, he took part in the 18th series of Celebrity Big Brother but became the fourth person to be evicted from the show.

He was also known by the nickname, The Boominator because ‘Boom’ was one of his catchphrases.  

Heavy D was a huge Arsenal fan, and often appeared on ArsenalFanTV.

The football channel paid tribute to him on Twitter, writing: ‘We are shocked to hear the sad news that Heavy D has passed away today. 

‘Our condolences go to his family at this very sad time.’ 

Fellow star Kelechi Anyikude penned: ‘I’m shocked to hear the sad news that my fellow Arsenal fan and analyst Heavy D has passed away today.

‘We shared the same platform for years and he always brought his positive vibes with him. My sincere condolences go to his family at this very sad time. #RIPHeavyD.’ 

Heavy D has a daughter called Rory, 14 months, with his ex-girlfriend, Bryony, 25, who is 22 years his junior.

The couple were engaged but split on Christmas Day 2016 before briefly reuniting in February 2017 but split once again in August of that year. 

The star sparked up a relationship with Bryony after she tracked him down on Twitter after falling for his boisterous personality on TV. 

Heavy popped the question to Bryony live on Fubar radio in September 2016 – and was thrilled when she accepted his proposal. 

The pair later engaged in a furious Twitter spat after he previously said he wanted to get a paternity test.  

In August 2017, said: ‘Basically my ex who is 7 months pregnant who says i’m the father has basically just said I can’t have a DNA test, cant give me a reason why.

‘And we split up for a week before the ‘conception’ and she went out and got steaming drunk with her mate. That’s and too close for comfort!!’  

Tributes poured in for the TV star after the news broke. 

Chloe Khan wrote: ‘I can’t believe what I have just read. I feel really saddened and weird. I got his twitter updates often and he seemed so full of life. Rest peacefully @HeavyHeavyd.’

And Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers wrote: ‘I don’t even know what to write I just feel weird. Life is a strange path. Sending love to his family.’ 

Other fans tweeted: ‘Sad to hear the news about Colin Heavy D. Larger than life character who I always got on with RIP BOOM

‘RIP HEAVY D! I’m in so much shock! Win, lose or draw you would always have good energy on match days.

‘Im find this hard to take in my good friend HeavyD has passed away he was a great character and was there for me in difficult times R I P Colin. [sic]

‘Had the pleasure of meeting Heavy D at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth, and VERY funny. 

‘R.I.P HEAVY D it’s mad as I see you doing boxing pads on your page just a week or so ago. REST IN POWER bigman.’  

An American-Jamaican rapper who also went by the name Heavy D, real name Dwight Arrington Myers, died in 2011.

He was killed by a pulmonary embellism which caused a blood clot that following a flight from London to LA.