Yahoo News Tinky Winky actor 'froze to death' after collapsing in the street
The actor who played Tinky Winky on the Teletubbies reportedly ‘froze to death in the street’ after collapsing in Liverpool.
Merseyside Police yesterday confirmed the discovery of Simon Shelton Barnes’ body near Liverpool waterfront at around 7.30am on January 17.
His flatmate, Judith Tynan, who shared a flat on the Wirral for the final year of his life, has now claimed that he died from hypothermia.
‘I’m very floored at losing him, he was just the best company. He was just the best person to live with and we got on terribly well’, Ms Tynan told MailOnline.
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‘I’m gobsmacked at losing him. He was charming and handsome and delicate and so lovely to be around. He wasn’t difficult, he was pleasurable and a delicate man.’
Police have also confirmed that the 52-year-old’s body was found in the Mann Island area of Liverpool City Centre – which is made up of commercial buildings and apartment blocks near the city’s Albert Docks.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: ‘We have confirmed some details about the death of Simon Shelton Barnes.
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‘We were called to the Mann Island area of Liverpool on January 17 at about 7.30 in the morning to reports of a man being found deceased.
‘There are no suspicious circumstances so anything else around this tragedy we are referring to the coroners.’
Mr Shelton Barnes played the role of the purple tele tubby between 1998 and 2001 – with tributes being played by co-star John Simmit, who played Dipsy.
‘What a week! RIP Simon Shelton aka Tinky Winky: remembering the many good times. Rest easy’, Simmit wrote on Twitter alongside a photo of the pair.
