The chilling 999 call made from Michael Barrymore’s home after a 31-year-old man drowned in his pool during a party has been released to the public for the first time
During the early hours of 31 March 2001, a telephone call is made to Essex Emergency Services to say a body had been found in the swimming pool of television presenter Michael Barrymore.
At the time, Michael, now 67, was one of the most popular entertainers in Britain.
When paramedics arrived, Stuart Lubbock’s lifeless body was found by the side of Barrymore’s swimming pool.
The call of the emergency services has never been released to the public until now in a new Channel 4 documentary.
Michael Barrymore was arrested and later released without charge following the death of Stuart Lubbock (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Barrymore: The Body In The pool will explore the full story behind one of Britain’s most high-profile unexpected deaths, as told by the people closest to it.
One of the partygoers calls Essex Emergency Services at 05.58am and explains he wants an ambulance to come to Beaumount Park Drive, Roydon, Essex.
“A geezer’s drowned in the pool”, says the caller, who has to reiterate that a man has drowned in the pool.
The 999 operator then asks if they got the man out of the water.
After explaining they have got Stuart out of the water, the caller then confirms they were at a party adding: “Someone’s just gone out and found him.”
The distressed caller then explains to the call handler that it was the first time he’d been out in years and that he looked after his children every weekend.
Stuart was found dead in Michael Barrymore’s swimming pool in 2001 (Image: PA)
Referring to the discovery of the body, he adds: “You don’t expect it, do you?”
There is then a jump forward as the caller shouts out to another partygoer as the ambulance arrives at Barrymore’s house.
As someones waits on the main road for the paramedics, the caller says: “”F**king hell. I think the geezer’s dead mate.”
At the time, the death of Stuart Lubbock sparked huge public interest with every detail poured over by the media.
Barrymore and two other men, his ex-lover Jonathan Kenney and dustman Justin Marritt, were arrested and later released without charge, and police say the three have not been “completely eliminated” from inquires.
Stuart’s death is one of Britiain’s most high-profile unexpected deaths after he was found in the TV star’s pool (Image: Channel 4)
Five others who were at the party that night – Merritt’s younger sister Kylie, chef James Futers, and locals Simon Shaw, Claire Jones, then 17, and Kelly Campbell – have also not been eliminated, according to police, “who say that one or more of the eight at the party was responsible for Stuart’s death”.
19 years on, a 90-minute documentary is set to shed more information on the investigation and reveal never seen before footage and exclusive interviews with those involved.
Stuart’s father, Terry Lubbock, who is supporting the research, said: “This documentary is about the questions around what happened to my son Stuart Lubbock. Finally.
“The story has become so distorted and confused over the years. So much has been said and written.
“It’s time to put all the facts together in one place.”
Terry Lubbock is supporting the documentary which is set to air on Channel 4 tonight (Image: PA)
Channel 4 commissioning editor Alisa Pomeroy said: “This film is a reflective piece that tells the story of an unexplained tragedy that unfolded in the glare of an unforgiving media.
“It sheds light on the complex relationship between celebrity, the criminal justice system and an all-powerful tabloid press in the early noughties, but most of all, it’s the deeply moving story of the Lubbock family’s continuing quest for answers and justice, nearly 20 years on.”
Barrymore: The Body In The Pool airs on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
