Montana Brown thought Mike Thalassitis’ death was HOAX and called Love Island star to warn him
MONTANA Brown thought Mike Thalassitis’ death was HOAX and called the Love Island star to warn him.
The 23-year-old revealed she was told rumours were circulating about him taking his own life before she’d been told the devastating news.
Mike, 26, was found hanged in a park near his hometown in Essex on Saturday morning after struggling to cope in recent months.
Speaking on This Morning, Montana explained: “One of my friends texted me saying, ‘I don’t know if this is true, but I heard Mike took his own life.’
“I was sat in the pub actually, and I thought ‘no, that’s not true, what a horrible rumour’.
“I text him saying ‘there’s this really weird rumour going around, call me when you get this’.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet, it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign. To remind anyone facing a tough time, grappling with mental illness or feeling like there’s nowhere left to turn, that there is hope.
To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, we told you the stories of brave survivors, relatives left behind, heroic Good Samaritans – and shared tips from mental health experts.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others. You’re Not Alone.
For a list of support services available, please see where to get help below.
“It didn’t deliver, it just had the one tick on What’s App. I tried to call him and his phone went straight to answerphone.
“I felt sick. I thought, ‘oh my God something really terrible has happened’.”
Montana – who became firm friends with Mike after meeting in Love Island 2017 – broke down as she spoke to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about the last time she spoke to him.
She wept as she admitted she didn’t reply to Mike’s final text just two days before he died.
“I spoke to him two days before,” said Montana.
“But I’m kicking myself because he text me but I didn’t actually reply. I’m really bad on my phone. I wish I had replied.”
WHERE TO GET HELP
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
She wept, adding: “He just said: ‘How is it going girl, how are you?’ I didn’t reply.”
Paying tribute to her friend on Instagram, Montana told how Mike was in a “dark place” and had turned to self-help book The Magic before his untimely death.
But in the weeks before he had been offered a job on Towie, was opening up a restaurant and had booked a two-week trip to California with his best friend.
Montana added: “He went through a really rough time November and December time.
“And I know he was really struggling. That’s when I thought ‘Oh my goodness, I feel like something bad is going to happen if I don’t do something.’
“At that point, the work wasn’t coming in, he’d finished Celebs Go Dating, the buzz had kind of gone and he didn’t really know what to do for work.
“He wanted to be his own boss and he didn’t know how to do that. I know he had a massive tax bill that he paid. I think the stress really, really got to him.
“He thought, ‘This fame isn’t what it’s cracked up to be? Where do I go now?”
Speaking about Mike’s new restaurant venture, The Skillet, she added: “He’d just started this brunch cafe which he nearly finished and it’s just, like, why now?”
- IF you are having suicidal thoughts, suffering from anxiety or depression or just want to talk, call The Samaritans on 116 123.