Former Big Brother contestant Gordon Sloan has died in mysterious circumstances at a Beijing hospital after collapsing.
Sloan, always a controversial and enigmatic figure, was in the original series of the Channel Ten show in 2001.
He died at 1pm Australian time yesterday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed a New Zealand born Victorian died yesterday and that its Beijing consulate was providing support for the family.
It is understood the 34-year-old architect was admitted to hospital on September 1 and was in a coma when he died.
There is speculation his death may have been drug related.
In the Big Brother house Sloan was famous for his crazy haircuts, orange rubber pants and extreme views.
Shortly after leaving the house he dated Rogue Traders singer and Neighbours’ star Natalie Basingthwaite and then quit his job to go to Iraq as a human shield.
The fitness fanatic believed passionately the invasion of Iraq was wrong but quickly become disillusioned by his treatment by Saddam’s regime saying he was just happy not to ‘get shot in the head in the desert’ in the end.
Livenews.com
