Darius Campbell Danesh ‘went off grid shortly before his death’ as pals claim they were ‘worried’

Darius Campbell Danesh ‘went off grid shortly before his death,’ pals of the star have claimed on Saturday. 

The singer was found unresponsive in a room within the Berkman apartment complex opposite Rochester’s Mayo Clinic specialist treatment centre, where he had checked in using the name Morgan Brown, on August 11. 

According to The Sun, pals of Darius were allegedly ‘worried’ when they struggled to get in touch with him in the months before his death. 

A source said to publication: ‘Someone got in touch with me to say, “Can you try to contact Darius? He’s gone off-grid and I’m worried.”‘

The pal explained how the behaviour was ‘unusual’ for the singer, who took almost two weeks to respond to the text message.  

‘When he did get back, the reply was to say “thanks for getting in touch, love you and apologies for the tardy response”. It was very odd,’ the source explained. 

Tragic: The pal explained how the behaviour was ‘unusual’ for the singer, who took almost two weeks to respond to the text message (pictured on Pop Idol in 2002)

They continued: ‘It was like I was speaking to a stranger. I spoke to him afterwards but he seemed like he may have been a bit lost.’

The friend went on to say that Darius explained that he was taking some time out to focus on himself.  

Local police in Rochester said there were ‘no signs of intent or suspicious circumstances’ and are awaiting toxicology results which could take up to two months  

Darius, from Glasgow, was living at the Berkman apartments, where he died under the name of his close friend Gerard Butler’s girlfriend, Morgan Brown. 

Hotel: Darius, from Glasgow, was living at the Berkman apartments, where he died under the name of his close friend Gerard Butler’s girlfriend, Morgan Brown 

Sad: The West End star was found unresponsive in a US apartment opposite the Mayo Clinic specialist treatment centre (pictured) on August 11 

He had become close friends with Gerard, a fellow Scot, in recent months, and he was among the last people to be pictured with him before his death. 

Mayo Clinic is described as Rochester’s ‘premier address for elegant short-term and long-term furnished suites and residential living’. 

The majority of those who live in the apartment block, either work or are treated at the Mayo Clinic’s Saint Marys Campus – it is unclear if he was being treated at the medical facility.

Friends: He had become close friends with Gerard Butler, a fellow Scot, and he was among the last people to be pictured with him before his death (Darius and Gerard pictured)

Alias: Darius had checked in to the apartment complex using the name of Gerard’s girlfriend Morgan Brown (Gerard and Morgan pictured in 2019)

The medical facility, which opened in 1889, has 70 operating rooms, ten intensive care units and 1,265 beds and specialises in cardiac treatment, transplants, psychiatry, neurosurgery and rehabilitation.

A police spokesman said: ‘The investigation into the cause of his death is still pending. There is no known threat to the public.’

A heartbreaking police dispatch call revealed the moment the star was found unresponsive in the apartment block.

Rochester Police Department said it responded to a ‘deceased person call’ at 11.53am on August 11 at The Berkman, and the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office identified the person as Darius.

Pop Idol star Darius Campbell Danesh, pictured in May 2018 at The Ivy Chelsea Garden Annual Summer Party in London

According to reports, a dispatch call was placed when a ‘medical’ team was requested for a ‘possible deceased’ person. 

Another call was allegedly made minutes later from an operator saying: ‘No need for them to respond. We’ll be waiting for RPD [Rochester Police Department] to arrive on the scene. We’ll secure the residence.’ 

Darius was thought to have been just weeks away from a reunion tour with his former Pop Idol co-stars, with sources close to him claiming that he had been hugely ‘excited’ for the homecoming and UK comeback trip.

Stars of the show from across the world, including Queen singer and American Idol winner Adam Lambert, were due to be invited back with Thames TV filming at the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End, reported The Sun.

Darius’s friend pays tribute to Pop Idol star as she lays flowers at his family home in Glasgow 

A close friend of Darius Campbell-Danesh today paid tribute to the Pop Idol star as she laid flowers at his family home in Glasgow.

Anne Ferguson said she had ‘no words’ to describe her sadness at the Scottish singer and actor’s sudden death.

Her celebrity hairdresser husband Taylor Ferguson had worked with Darius for two decades – and they met again and were pictured together in March this year when Darius visited his Glasgow salon with showbiz friend Gerard Butler.

Anne Ferguson arrives to leave flowers at Darius’s family home in Glasgow today

With tears running down her face, Mrs Ferguson told MailOnline today: ‘It’s just so awful. There are no words. I cannot describe how sad I feel.’

Mrs Ferguson told how she first became friends with Darius after her husband cut the young performer’s hair ahead of his first Pop Idol performance.

She said: ‘My husband Taylor cut Darius’ hair just before he went on Pop Idol and we stayed friends ever since.

Anne Ferguson and Darius at a fashion event in London in 2011

‘His song Colourblind hit number one on the day of our son’s wedding but Darius still found time to come to the wedding.

‘On Thursday we were celebrating our son’s 20th wedding anniversary and we played Darius’ tune again. I cannot believe he died that same day.

‘I send all my love to his mum and dad and his brothers. It’s so sad.’

Darius (left) is pictured with Glasgow-based hair stylist Taylor Ferguson (centre) and actor Gerard Butler (right) in March

Mrs Ferguson’s husband Taylor also paid tribute to Darius and told how he was ‘devastated’.

According to the Daily Record, Mr Ferguson said: ‘Devastated at the shocking news of the sudden death of our dearly loved friend Darius. Only 41. Our hearts are broken. We knew Darius from back in his Pop Idol days and he became a family friend.

‘We celebrated our son and daughter-in-law’s 20th wedding anniversary last Thursday. That date coincided with the 20th anniversary of Darius getting his first number one with Colourblind.

‘Indeed Darius came to the wedding and all the guests toasted his chart success – and of course we danced to the track.’