Hockney assistant death: 'no obvious natural cause'

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-21826586

David Hockney's assistant has died after he was taken to hospital from the artist's home.

Dominic Elliott, 23, was pronounced dead at Scarborough General Hospital at about 06:00 GMT on Sunday after being driven there from the house in Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

Humberside Police said there were no signs of violence and they were trying to establish what had happened.

A post mortem examination is due to take place on Tuesday.

World-renowned artist Hockney, 75, has been one of Britain's most celebrated artists for about half a century.

A major show of Hockney's landscapes at the Royal Academy last year, titled A Bigger Picture, attracted more than 600,000 people.

He was born in Bradford in 1937 but now lives in the seaside town of Bridlington and has spent the last few years painting the landscapes of the East Yorkshire Wolds.

Mr Elliott had sat for the artist on more than one occasion at his studio.

:shocked:

[Omah]

Mr Elliott played for Bridlington Rugby Club, which issued a statement on the club website: "Bridlington Rugby Club would like to send their condolences to the family of Dom Elliott.

"He played for the club at both second team and first-team level, he will be sadly missed by all the players and club members."

There are currently two lithographs of Mr Elliott on display at Salts Mill in Saltaire, West Yorkshire.

:idc:

[Livia]

Is this in 'Serious Debates' just because David Hockney is famous? The police said there were no signs of violence and all unexplained deaths are investigated by a post mortem.

What exactly is up for debate here?

[InOne]

The curse of it being merged with news stories

[Livia]

Oh yes... I forgot about that. With all the trivial forums on here about nothing at all, serious dabates and news got merged.

[arista]

Ch4News said it was Drink , the police said.

[Omah]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2013/mar/18/david-hockney-assistant-dominic-elliott-dies

Detectives are keen to establish whether Elliott, a keen hockey and rugby player, had taken drugs or any other harmful substance before his death, said a police spokeswoman. But she added: "We are not speculating how this young man died until we get the results of the post-mortem."

By Monday evening no one had been formally interviewed by police, and no arrests had been made, the spokeswoman added. Hockney may be interviewed in due course, as officers try to piece together the circumstances surrounding Elliott's death.

Local reports suggested Elliott had been drinking the night before he died, and had begun vomiting uncontrollably when Hockney's partner, John Fitzherbert, decided to take him to hospital.

:idc:

[Omah]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9938012/Police-likely-to-question-David-Hockney-about-assistants-death.html

Mr Elliott was one of three assistants who work with Hockney and Mr Fitzherbert at the house. After being introduced to the artist by a friend, Mr Elliott worked as a studio assistant, driving Hockney around the country and helping to set up his shows. He also greeted the artist’s visitors, including Sir Paul McCartney.

Mr Elliott’s father, a local GP, died in 2001 after suffering a heart attack while on duty. One friend claimed that Mr Elliott had an underlying heart condition and had been advised not to drink excessively, although this was denied by his family.

He attended York University but dropped out after his first year and returned home to work for Hockney. According to his family he lived nearby, but often “stayed over” at the artist’s house.

:idc:

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-21841781

It could be several weeks before the cause of death of David Hockney's assistant is known, police have said.

Humberside Police said they were treating his death as unexplained, but a post-mortem examination taking place later "may provide some clues".

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "Results from post-mortem examinations are not always conclusive and it may then take several more weeks for complete results to be available to provide a pathologist with the information required to identify any cause.

"Officers will continue to make routine inquiries into the events leading up to the arrival of the deceased at hospital and his subsequent death."

:idc:

[Omah]

http://www.channel4.com/news/hockneys-studio-assistant-death-no-obvious-natural-cause

The results of post-mortem exam released on Wednesday found that there was no obvious natural cause of death.

:idc:

[lostalex]

who? :conf:

[Livia]

who? :conf:

David Hockney... he's the swimming pool guy

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHpyUV0Bod7KxAZuaPt1LFHsU8JTViV MHh2d3Eye1KfpTQcsB83E53Ph0

Biggest non-story of the week.

[Kizzy]

I miss SH and her sweetcorn related threads, they always attracted a lively debate didn't they? :laugh:

[Omah]

David Hockney... he's the swimming pool guy

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHpyUV0Bod7KxAZuaPt1LFHsU8JTViV MHh2d3Eye1KfpTQcsB83E53Ph0

Biggest non-story of the week.

Well, AFAIK, you haven't posted a better one ..... :laugh2:

[Kizzy]

Fair point... :laugh:

[InOne]

I'm pretty sure if she ever decided to it would be much better than this 'story'

[Omah]

I'm pretty sure if she ever decided to it would be much better than this 'story'

But she didn't ..... :nono:

Those who can, do, those who can't, criticise ..... :pipe:

[InOne]

But she didn't ..... :nono:

Those who can, do, those who can't, criticise ..... :pipe:

I think it's more don't want to than can't.

[Omah]

I think it's more don't want to than can't.

You only think ..... :conf: