Love Island star Mike Thalassitis was found hanged in a park on Saturday, police have confirmed - after friends revealed he had been 'in a dark place' in the months leading up to his death.
Mike Thalassitis, 26, was found dead yesterday morning in Edmonton, North London, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed - after his manager revealed news of his death late last night.
It has been suggested that Mike was at the time struggling to come to terms with the death of his grandmother. The reality TV star had moved in with the 94-year-old after her deteriorating health meant she needed a full-time carer.
And this morning former Love Island contestant Montana Brown said that Thalassitis had been 'in a dark place' recently, wishing she had done more to help.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed this morning that the body of a man had been found at 9.28am on Saturday, with the circumstances around the death not considered to be suspicious.
A spokesman said: 'Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found a man, aged in his 20s, deceased. Police are in the process of informing the man's next of kin.'
It also emerged today that Mike had been dealing with huge debts after overextending himself with a party lifestyle, with a source telling The Mirror: 'His party lifestyle came at a price and he wasn't earning a lot of cash after Love Island, especially as he became his nan's carer.'
Thalassitis had also been due to open a restaurant in Essex called The Skillet with former professional footballer Scott Neilson, according to filings at Companies House.
The reality TV star had been overseeing construction work to open his new business in a former bakery in the wealthy Essex town of Loughton.
Building work on the 1,613 square foot restaurant called The Skillet appeared to be at an advanced stage today.
A solitary bunch of flowers in memory of tragic Mike, 26, was seen on the doorstep of the business this morning.
Former co-stars and friends of Mike have said that 'enough is enough' as they claim that they are left abandoned once they leave the reality show's villa, having to deal with instant fame alone.
This morning, former Love Island contestant Montana Brown paid tribute to Thalassitis on Instagram saying she wished she had done more and revealed he had turned to self-help books in recent months.
She said: 'Now I know you were in a dark place a few months back and I thought you were past it and that you were on the up.
'I got you to buy (self-help book) The Magic, you wrote down your gratitude, you had the pictures of your family in your car to remind you to be grateful for them.
'I just don't know how I didn't notice... I am absolutely heartbroken that I couldn't help you'.
Brown also revealed details of their last phone call, in which Thalassitis congratulated her on a recent swimwear launch.
And added: 'I've thought long and hard about what I want to say, I've woken up and unfortunately this wasn't just a nightmare so this is to you, Mr. Thala.
'Firstly, I'm so angry at you for doing this because you are so loved by so many people and I just wish you picked up the phone so we could've sorted this out. This didn't need to happen.
'Secondly, it annoys me that you were so misunderstood. 'Muggy Mike' was your stage name and let's face it, the ladies did fall at your feet BUT everyone had this impression of you and you were literally the opposite you were one of a kind.'
After learning of the news of his death, former Love Island co-star Dom Lever slammed Love Island for its lack of support once contestants leave the villa.
He said: 'You get a psychological evaluation before and after you go on the show but hands down once you are done on the show you don't get any support unless you're number one.' This followed a tweet where he expressed how shocked he was at the news.
Malin Andersson, who lost her daughter earlier this year also hit out at the show and said she 'wouldn't have been able to cope' after the show if she didn't have a 'strong head on her'.
She said: 'If I didn't have a strong head on me that my mum passed down to me, I wouldn't have been able to cope with this all. But not everyone is like this. PLEASE IF YOU FEEL ALONE, OR SAD, OR STUCK REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY!
'Nothing when my mum died. Nothing when Sophie died. Change needs to happen.' She also urged the show to 'wake up!' and said that enough was enough.
'I got flowers from the producers when my daughter died. No f****** phone call. No support, or help.'
Other famous faces, such as Bafta award-winning actress Sheridan Smith said Thalassitis' death should be a 'wake up call' and highlighted a need for change across the industry.
She said: 'This should be a massive wake up call, I feel sick, reach out, sometimes to the most confident friend. we can only learn & try to change'.
Mike - who rose to fame on season three of Love Island - was also preparing to open a restaurant in Essex.
The former League One footballer, who comes from a Cypriot family, enjoyed a successful playing career before becoming a beloved reality TV star.
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