Singer and activist Bob Geldof says he and his family are "beyond pain" , following the death of his daughter Peaches yesterday. The model, journalist and television personality was found at her home in Kent in southern England at lunchtime.
Local police confirmed that a woman had been pronounced dead after they were called to an address in Wrotham, Kent, “following a report of concern for the welfare of a woman”.
Peaches Geldof was twice married, first to US musician Max Drummey when she was 19 and then to musician Tom Cohen in 2012. They had two boys – Phaedra, who will be one later this month, and 23-month-old Astala. Phaedra shares the same birth date as her late mother, author and TV presenter Paula Yates. Yates died in 2000 of a drug overdose at 41.
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In a statement last night, her father said: “Peaches has died. We are beyond pain. She was the wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us. Writing ‘was’ destroys me afresh. What a beautiful child. How is this possible that we will not see her again? How is that bearable? We loved her and will cherish her forever. How sad that sentence is.
“Tom and her sons Astala and Phaedra will always belong in our family, fractured so often, but never broken.”
"Adored"
Cohen said: "My beloved wife Peaches was adored by myself and her two sons Astala and Phaedra and I shall bring them up with their mother in their hearts every day. We shall love her forever."
Peaches was the second eldest daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, coming between Fifi and Pixie. After Geldof and Yates split up, she had another daughter Tiger Lily with INXS singer Michael Hutchence, who died in 1997. Tiger Lily lived with Geldof and his family after her mother's death.
RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy interviewed Peaches Geldof in 2008. Last night he said he was deeply saddened. "I met and interviewed Peaches once, she was smart, quirky and I felt she was lucky to have Bob for her dad as he adored his kids.
“My thoughts are with Bob, who has known enough sorrow already. No father should bury his daughter and what has happened to Bob and his family is unimaginable.” Geldof’s father Bob snr and his sister Cleo both died in the autumn of 2010.
Tributes
Many television personalities and celebrities paid tribute.
X-Factor 's Simon Cowell tweeted: "So sad to hear about Peaches. Rest in peace." He said later: "The few times I met Peaches she was a sweet, funny warm person. Much love to her family she has left behind."
Former X-Factor judge Sharon Osborne wrote: "Devastated about peaches_g. Sending condolences & respect to the Geldof family. It's unimaginable what they must be going through right now."
Author Irvine Welsh added: “Very sad to hear of the tragic, untimely death of Peaches Geldof. Thoughts with Bob G and the family.”
Philip Schofield, who appeared with her on the This Morning ITV show, wrote: "Utterly stunned at the terrible news of the death of Peaches Geldof! The dreadful loss of a really lovely woman."
