DJ found dead on birthday
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Your support makes all the difference.A successful British DJ was found dead in the bedroom of his Tenerife apartment on his 32nd birthday, his family said.
Gifford Noel, who used the stage names TNT and DJ Trend, was found by friends in his apartment on the holiday island where he had worked for several months.
His mother, Deborah Noel, found out something was wrong when friends asked the family to contact them through his Facebook profile.
"It was his birthday. We were trying to get through to him and couldn't get through. We thought it wasn't like him at all," she said yesterday.
"We thought we'd Facebook him. He's lost a couple of mobiles before."
Ms Noel, from east London, also has four daughters and said: "They went on Facebook and a message came up saying can any family please contact his friends."
After hearing the shocking news that her son had been found dead at his apartment in Playa de las Americas, Ms Noel and her daughter Krystle, 23, flew to Tenerife on Saturday morning.
The DJ, who was working at the Oasis nightspot in the busy Veronicas area of the resort, was found at around 11pm on Friday night and is thought to have suffered heart failure, his family said.
They believe his death is not being treated as suspicious but nobody from the island's police was available to talk to the Press Association.
Ms Noel said her "gentle" son had worked with big names like Dizzee Rascal and the Sugababes.
"Music was his passion," she said.
Dizzee Rascal wore a t-shirt with the slogan RIP DJ Trend on Sunday while judging the final of the Sky television talent show Must Be The Music.
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"I have got to say rest in peace DJ Trend, never forgotten, drum and bass specialist, legend," he told viewers.
"I come up on this man. He's just been one of my inspirations as a youth.
"Can't forget this dude."
Krystle Noel, speaking from Tenerife, said: "He was the best big brother I could have asked for. He was caring, considerate."
The DJ's uncle and aunt have also flown out to the island to make arrangements to bring his body home when the police investigation allows.
His uncle Keni Laudat said: "He was the most humble, gentle person that I have ever met. He wasn't boastful at all.
"He had it all."
His aunt Celia Laudat said his death was "terrible".
Friends described the DJ as "a legend" on his Facebook page.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Tenerife on September 17.
"We are in contact with his next of kin and are providing consular assistance."
Spanish police later confirmed that the DJ had died of natural causes.
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