Ben Thapa, one of the vocalists in the band G4, has died at the age of 42.
The group rose to fame when they appeared on the first ever series of The X Factor in 2004, finishing as runners-up under the mentorship of Louis Walsh.
G4 split in 2007 but reunited seven years later and Thapa remained with the group until 2018, when he quit to focus on his solo operatic work.
Although his cause of death is unknown, Thapa posted a picture from his hospital bed at the end of August revealing that he had undergone an "emergency nephrostomy" - a procedure which drains urine from the kidneys.
In a statement on social media, G4 said: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our brother and great friend, Ben Thapa.
"Words cannot express how we all feel right now... We understand that this will be heartbreaking news for so many others too and we send you our love and support as we all remember the amazing man and memories that he has left behind.
"Ben has been such a major part of the international singing community and he was a critical part of our journey as a group. Thank you for your love at this difficult time. RIP Ben xxxx"
Neil Wilkes
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