OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN ; Family of Tragic Heath Tells of Their Torment

Jan 26, 04:33 AM

ACTOR Heath Ledger's family poured out their love and grief for him yesterday, saying: "Our hearts are broken."

The family put their tributes to the Brokeback Mountain star in print in the death notices column of an Australian newspaper.

His distraught parents were joined by his sisters, brothers and other close relatives in penning moving words about the man they called "Heatho", "Beef" and "Roast".

Elder sister Kate wrote: "I can hardly breathe when I try to write this. I feel both my heart and life have been torn apart."

Ledger, 28, who last year split up with his fiancee Michelle Williams, the mum of his two-year-old daughter, was found dead at his rented apartment in Soho, New York, on Tuesday.

Six different kinds of drugs were found in his flat, including anti-depressants and sleeping pills, but a post mortem was inconclusive and results of further tests will take around 10 days.

More than 11,000 miles away in Australia, his adoring family's shock and grief was laid bare. But they fondly remembered the good times, and promised they would be there to look after daughter Matilda.

Two columns in the West Australian newspaper, published in Ledger's home town of Perth, began: "How do we describe our sudden and tragic loss?"

His family told the world: "There will never, ever be another Heath."

A tribute from all members of his immediate family went on: "You were the most amazing individual "old soul" in a young man's body.

"You so loved us, as we dearly loved you.

"As a close-knit and very private family unit we have observed you so determined yet quietly travelling in your self-styled path in life, nothing would get in your way ... no mountain too tall, no river too wide.

"You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment.

"We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing and, through it all, we have loved each other beyond imagination.

"Your true legacy lives on in beautiful littleMatilda, who will always remain in the greatest of care.

"Our hearts are broken."

His mother, Sally, wrote: "You knew you were so loved. You lived life with courage and daring and we are so grateful for the wonderful times we shared. We will be there for Matilda."

And his father, Kim, said: "No more chess games, mate ... this is it. Couldn't beat you anyway.

"My body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together."

As the family's tributes were published, Kim and Sally, who divorced when Ledger was 11, made the grim journey to New York to pick up his body and take him home for burial in Perth next week. The Oscarnominated star's remains are being held at the FrankE Campbell funeral home on the Upper East Side, which has handled arrangements for celebrities including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Judy Garland and John Lennon.

After speaking to Mr Ledger, director Dominic Carella said: "He just wants to be with his son."

Outside the home, scores of loyal fans braved the frost to pay their respects and leave tributes, watched over by armed police guards.

Police had cordonned off areas around the home. Ex-fiancee Michelle, who he met on the set of Brokeback Mountain, was expected to join his parents for a private viewing of the body.

She rushed back to New York with Matilda when she learned of the tragedy and has been grieving at the home they once shared in Brooklyn.

The family were also expected to meet the New York medical examiner who conducted the autopsy.

As friends and relatives poured out their grief, speculation over Ledger's fragile state of mind was fuelled by the release of a voicemail message the actor left late ast month. In it, he thanked a newspaper for giving him privacy over Christmas duringan "incredibly therapeutic and much-needed trip home".

He said: "I've had the most beautiful time back here and being able to see all my friends and family, let alone the press and the people within the community of Perth. It's been so lovely.

"It's really enabled me to be a boy again from home and feel like I'd never left."

In the death notices column, sister Kate also wrote: "I loved our special talks, our daily chats from wherever you were in the world.

"You were so many things to so many people, but to me you were just my little brother.

"There will never, ever be another 'Heath' and I think that in itself is the greatest tragedy.

"I will continue to talk with you every day and love you just as if you were here. You will never leave."

You're my idol, my hero, but most importantly, my loving big brother. I'll treasure every moment we spent together Sister Olivia

My body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together Dad Kim

You lived life with courage and daring and we are so grateful for the wonderful times we shared Mum Sally

I can hardly breathe when I try to write this. We were the ultimate in soul mates. I feel both my heart and life have been torn apart Sister Kate

(c) 2008 Daily Record; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN ; Family of Tragic Heath Tells of Their Torment
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