24may05
HeraldSun
A TEENAGER who appeared in the Australian reality television show The Colony has been found dead.
The death of
English girl Carina Stephenson, 17, has raised questions in the British media about potential emotional damage caused by reality TV shows.
The Colony recreated life in Australia 200 years ago. The participants faced a series of hardships including extreme cold, a lack of food, poor shelter and tension between the families.
The show screened on SBS in January and was due to go to air in England in two weeks.
Carina's family have been back in the UK for about six months after filming the series in New South Wales.
She was found in bushland near her home at Branton, a village near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, on Saturday.
Carina had been missing for about five days after going for a ride on her bicycle.
She had apparently taken her own life.
Her mother Liz said Carina had been troubled by her sexuality and recently revealed to her family that she was gay.
The Australian family that spent 14 weeks last year filming with the Stephensons were shocked by Carina's death and sent condolences.
Tracey Hohnke, of Tasmania, said her daughter Kashire, 15, had stayed in regular touch with Carina via email since the show was filmed.
Ms Hohnke said Kashire was upset and so far had decided not to talk about her friend's death.
Producer Chris Hilton said Carina's death was a tragedy and that everyone involved in the series had known and loved her.
"I don't believe, and her family don't believe, there is any suggestion The Colony had anything to do with this," Hilton said.
