THE family of a My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star who died with his twin brother have revealed fears a tragic photo hinted at the suspected suicide pact. Billy and Joe Smith, both 32, were found in Kent woodland just days before the new year. And cousin Phoebe Sharleen Smith said she was heartbroken that […]
THE family of a My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star who died with his twin brother have revealed fears a tragic photo hinted at the suspected suicide pact.
Billy and Joe Smith, both 32, were found in Kent woodland just days before the new year.
And cousin Phoebe Sharleen Smith said she was heartbroken that she “should have known” Joe was struggling before the sudden tragic deaths.
She said the young man had changed his WhatsApp picture to a haunting photo of two young boys silhouetted against a sunset.
Writing on Facebook, she said: “You changed your dp last time I was chatting to u, u was always worried about me n it should been the other way round.
“The display picture of the twins looking at the sky I should of new, Joey.” [sic]
The brothers’ family has been left reeling after the pair – who had vowed to stay together until the end – died suddenly.
And it was earlier claims the Big Fat Gypsy Wedding stars had left a note before their deaths, saying they “wanted it like this”.
Phoebe told the Telegraph: “Joey had cancer, and Billy told him ‘I’d never be able to live without you’.
“Joey told the family he got the all-clear after chemo two months ago, but we don’t know if that’s true now.
“They went missing, and Joey’s phone was turned off. Then we found a note. It said that they wanted it like this, and we would find them in the woods where they played with the family years ago.”
Tragically, just two weeks before their death, the brothers had been filmed singing and dancing to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You.
The brothers had first featured on Channel 4 throughout 2013.
One episode followed them during a gardening shift in Kent, where they discussed the traveller lifestyle before getting married.
Among tributes paid to the twins, Billy’s partner Kristina, from Cheltenham, wrote on Facebook: “Hardest day of my life. RIP my perfect Bill you were so pure so lovely.
“You made me the happiest girl. Did everything for me showed me love i never had you always see stuff like this but you just never think it’ll happen to you.
“I can’t believe I have to type this together struggling to speak never mind put a sentence together, I’m gonna make you so so proud my bill, my life, my angel.”
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.
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.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
Paddy Doherty also paid tribute to the brothers, saying he understood the toll cancer could take after his own prostate cancer battle.
He said: “I suffered with depression once upon a time, I know what it’s like and I’m not ashamed to say it.
“When I found out I had prostate (cancer), my head messed up big time.
“No one knows it until you’re in that situation.”
A Kent Police spokesman said: “Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the deaths are ongoing but they are not currently being treated as suspicious.
He added: “The next of kin of both men are aware and are being kept updated.”
An inquest into the deaths is likely to be held in the New Year.
