Inside Big Brother’s darkest secret: Why mystery still surrounds the death of season one star Gordon Sloan after he ‘collapsed’ in a Beijing nightclub in 2007
Gordon Sloan starred in the first season of Big Brother Australia in 2001, alongside the likes of Blair McDonough and Sara-Marie Fedele.
And the circumstances surrounding his untimely death 13 years ago remain to this day the reality TV franchise’s most chilling mystery.
The architect, who was known for his mohawk hairstyle, is said to have ‘collapsed’ in a Beijing nightclub on September 1, 2007.
Inside Big Brother’s darkest secret: Why mystery still surrounds the death of season one star Gordon Sloan after he ‘collapsed’ in a Beijing nightclub in 2007. Pictured on April 23, 2001
He was rushed to Chaoyang Hospital in a coma, but died on September 13 at the age of 34.
At the time, his uncle Andy Schollum denied rumours Gordon had died of a drug overdose and said there must have been another reason.
He told Sydney Morning Herald: ‘We don’t know what to believe [but] the assertion that Gordon injected a toxic substance is absolutely incorrect and has caused the family deep emotional distress.’
Untimely death: The architect, who was known for his mohawk hairstyle, is said to have ‘collapsed’ in a Beijing nightclub on September 1, 2007. He died in hospital two weeks later
Mr Schollum explained that toxic substances had been found in his nephew’s stomach that he would not have knowingly injected or consumed.
He added that Gordon’s family hadn’t turned off his life support and that his death ‘was directly related to hypoxia, deprivation of oxygen to the brain’.
Gordon’s death remains a mystery to this day because Beijing police abandoned the investigation due to of a lack of leads.
Sad: At the time, his uncle Andy Schollum denied rumours Gordon had died of a drug overdose and said there must have been another reason. Pictured: Gordon on Big Brother in 2001
Gordon had famously dated Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte in 2005, after finding fame on Big Brother.
They split up after six months, but remained friends until his death.
At the time, Natalie told the Herald Sun that Gordon’s death was ‘truly devastating beyond words’.
‘He is a man who was often misunderstood but always saw the good in every person,’ she said.
‘Gordon was constantly trying to make the world a better place because he cared.’
Exes: Gordon had famously dated Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte in 2005, after finding fame on Big Brother. They split up after six months, but remained friends until his death