Dead at 56, dad Charlotte shunned after he walked out on her as a little girl
CHARLOTTE Church’s estranged biological father has died at the age of 56 after contracting coronavirus, it was reported yesterday.
Stephen Reed had been desperate to reunite with the singer, 34, who he walked out on when she was just two years old.
He was admitted to University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with the virus before Christmas. He died at his home in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, surrounded by family.
Problem
Charlotte has two children, Ruby, 13, and Dexter, 12, with rugby player Gavin Henson, and a daughter with new husband Jonathan Powell. It is believed Charlotte and her father had not reconciled and he did not get to meet her children.
Stephen made a public plea in 2008 calling for them to make up.
When Charlotte was pregnant with Dexter, and living just 12 miles away, he said: “Please get in contact – I still love you.
“It upsets me that I’ve got a grandchild who I don’t know and another on the way.
When I see photos of Ruby I see a lot of myself in her. I’m a good dad. I’d be a good grandparent. I don’t see what the problem is.” Charlotte was adopted by her mum Maria’s husband James Church and took his surname. Stephen walked out on Maria and Charlotte 33 years ago. He had two sons with his second wife. At the time of his plea, the singer said: “They are strangers to me. Ignorance is bliss. I’m staying in my own bubble.”
Charlotte achieved global success in 1998 with her album Voice Of An Angel aged 12. She went on to release three more albums. The singer was contacted for a comment.
A CORONER has warned of the dangers of full-face snorkelling masks after a British man died of oxygen deprivation on a trip to Australia.
John Bazzoni had travelled to Karratha in Western Australia to visit his daughter Nicola Roman for Christmas 2017.
During a New Year’s Eve snorkelling trip with his police officer son-in-law Sean, the 56-year-old Briton got into difficulties.
An inquest inWinchester heard Mr Bazzoni was a “poor swimmer” and had previously been helped from the water after panicking when water got into his mask. For the trip he bought a Go Fun 180-degree full-face mask as he believed it would stop water getting in.
Nicola told the hearing she had warned her father about the dangers of the ocean, but he said he “couldn’t think of a better way to die than snorkelling over coral in paradise”.
Sean said he jumped into the water after Mr Bazzoni began to wave for
help 65ft from the boat. He said: “I think he called, ‘Sean, come here’. I didn’t like John’s voice – it was panicked.” When he reached him Mr Bazzoni grabbed hold of him. Sean said he could see a cupful of water pooled in his mask.
Mr Bazzoni, of Andover, Hants, lost consciousness and died despite attempts to resuscitate him.
A post-mortem found he died hypoxia – oxygen deprivation.
Coroner Jason Pegg said there were concerns full-face masks do not allow exhaled air to be purged, leading to a build-up of carbon dioxide.
Verdict: misadventure. of