Inside Ian Thorpe’s ex Ryan Channing’s final hours before tragic death aged 32
Ian Thorpe’s ex partner Ryan Channing was found “conscious but extremely weak” just 48 hours before he tragically died in Bali, according to a new report.
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Emergency services attended to Ryan Channing just two days before he tragically died of unknown causes, after the 32-year-old fainted inside the luxury Balinese villa where he had been staying.
According to a report by The Daily Mail, a medical team were called to the Tagoo villas in Kuta on the night of May 6, where they found the Perth skincare entrepreneur, lawyer and model “conscious but extremely weak”.
Channing — who was the first official partner of Ian Thorpe after the Olympic swimmer came out as gay — was reportedly stabilised by medics at the compound before being rushed to BIMC Hospital.
He then spent 48 hours in intensive care, suffering from what appeared to be an “allergic reaction to medication”, a medical source told the publication, before he passed away on May 8, with his family at his bedside.
The exact cause of Channing’s death remains unclear but is not considered suspicious, and his family have asked for privacy as they “seek answers and try to come to terms with the heartbreaking loss”.
“It is with a heavy heart I announce that my brother Ryan has recently passed away on Sunday the 8th of May at 32 years of age,” Channing’s younger brother, Jake, wrote on social media.
“As we seek answers and try to come to terms with the heartbreaking loss of my beautiful big brother, we ask for your prayers, support and privacy, he will be forever loved, never forgotten and forever young.
“To my big brother, I love you, I’ll see you one day soon you’ll be missed more than you know.”
Their sister Charis echoed the sentiment, requesting “prayers, support and privacy” in her own heartbreaking tribute.
“Saying goodbye to you on Sunday was the hardest thing my family and I have ever had to do. 32 years young, you’re gone too soon,” she wrote.
“I know you will be looking down on us and we love you lots.”
In an emotional tribute on Thursday, Channing’s skincare company, The Blaq Group, remembered him for his “fun loving spirit”.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that The Blaq Group founder, Ryan Channing, has passed away at the age of 32,” the message read.
“Ryan had been battling with health issues over the past few months and died in hospital after being taken suddenly ill on Sunday May 8th whilst on holidays in Bali.
“His inspiration led to the creation of highly regarded skincare brands, Flight Mode and Generation Skin as well as the flagship brand Blaq which strives to empower equality through its distinctive messages of acceptance and inclusivity.”
It comes as Channing’s family members have been forced to hit out at vile rumours claiming he had HIV when he died.
The cruel trolls took to his Instagram page overnight on Wednesday to make the unsubstantiated claims, to which his young relative, Abbey Channing, hit back.
“You will notice Ryan went to hospital with Covid,” one person wrote, referring to Channing’s last post eight weeks earlier, where he wrote, “Covid got me GEWD” alongside a picture at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.
“Classic reaction from an otherwise young, healthy male who is immunocompromised because of HIV.”
Ms Channing responded: “Please don’t make assumptions about somebody’s death.”
Channing’s brother had also noted in his tribute that the death was not related to Covid-19.
As well as being an unsubstantiated claim, the troll’s comment also assumes that somebody with HIV can die from contracting the virus.
The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations says living with HIV today is vastly different to what it meant to a person’s ongoing health and life expectancy when the epidemic first began.
“Today, a HIV positive person who is on effective treatment can live as long and as healthy a life as a person who does not have HIV,” it says
“A person with HIV is described as ‘HIV positive’, meaning that they receive a ‘positive’ result from a blood test for HIV infection. This does not mean they have AIDS.
“AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) occurs as the result of a person’s immune system being severely damaged by HIV. Unless a person commences treatment, they will be vulnerable to infections and illnesses that their immune system would normally fight off.”
Another person wrote on social media: “Only 32 years and always the picture of health.
“Suicide is a terrible thing, mental health funding needs to be improved.”
Ms Channing again wrote: “Please don’t make assumptions about somebody’s death.”
Originally published as Inside Ian Thorpe’s ex Ryan Channing’s final hours before tragic death aged 32
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