14 DAY TRIAL // Sad news follows reports that Gia Allemand, who won the hearts of viewers at home during the 14th season of “The Bachelor,” had been hospitalized in critical condition: her family confirms the 29-year-old swimsuit model has died.
As we also noted yesterday, Allemand was rushed to a New Orleans hospital for what a statement from the family called a “serious emergency medical event.”
No other details were offered at the time, though some of her friends took to Twitter to say she was in critical condition, on life support.
In a new statement cited by OMG Yahoo!, Gia’s family confirms her death, noting that it was caused by a suicide attempt.
“Due to a critical loss of brain and organ function, life support was withdrawn today. Ms. Allemand passed away peacefully with her mother, boyfriend, and other lifelong friends by her side. As a practicing Christian, Gia did receive the sacrament of last rites,” the statement reads.
The aforementioned media outlet notes that it was Gia’s boyfriend, NBA basketball player Ryan Anderson, who found her collapsed at their apartment, and immediately called for help.
“Loved ones and fans will remember Gia Allemand as a caring woman who loved her family and was well-known for her compassion towards animals and mission to rescue homeless pets,” the statement from the family further says.
“Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming in another official statement once available. On behalf of the family, we sincerely ask for privacy at this time,” it adds.
No other details on the reasons that might have prompted Gia to choose to end her own life are provided.
However, OMG notes, only a few days before, she’d seemed in a very good mood, tweeting and instagramming as usual.
She did not have a public record of any kind of abuse (drugs or alcohol), and she always came across as the girl with the bubbly personality and warm heart everyone fell in love with.