Former Australian Idol star, 36, found dead in bushland near home
Country music singer Kate Cook has been found dead in bushland near her Queensland home.
Friends of the 36-year-old alerted police on Sunday evening, concerned about her mental state when she wandered off from her Lowood home into the mountains, the Weekly Times reported.
They began searching at 7.20pm and continued late into the night.
The search then continued at first light on Monday morning to find Cook’s body 500 metres into the bushland.
Police are reportedly not treating her death as suspicious.
Cook won hearts across the nation 10 years ago making it to the top six on the Australian Idol TV singing competition.
For her audition, the country musician sang an original song she had written for her mother who committed suicide two days before her own 17th birthday.
Country music star Beccy Cole paid tribute to Cook, saying she was ‘heartbroken’.
“You were a pioneer Kate Cook. You went on national TV and said ‘this is me…’,” Cole said.
“You changed nothing about yourself to conform… you made the world safe for SO many others, if only you understood what a hero you were… you beautiful big hearted Queenslander. Cheers Cookie.”
Another fellow singer Casey Barnes, who was also an Idol contestant in 2009 paid tribute to his good friend on social media, saying the pair had recently spoken about organising an Idol reunion.
“This is the Kate Cook I remember and loved. We were only just talking about organising a ten year Idol reunion this year… you were such a beautiful person inside & out,” Barnes wrote on Facebook.
“Absolutely gutted but hope you’re up there with your mum now.”
If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36.
