Mike Thalassitis: Flood of tributes to Love Island star after death at 26

Tributes to reality TV star Mike Thalassitis have flooded social media since news of the 26-year-old’s death broke on Friday.

The semi-professional football player was best known for appearing on Love Island in 2017 and Celebs Go Dating the following year.

Former contestants from both shows have publicly expressed their grief.

Jonny Mitchell, who remained close friends with Thalassitis after the duo appeared on the same season of Love Island together, said he was “heartbroken” in an Instagram post.

He added: “I genuinely can’t believe what I’m seeing here. My boy from the villa and one of my best mates from the show coming out. An absolute hero and a legend and someone I personally looked up to, always full of so much positivity and charisma.”

Another former contestant, Tyla Rose Carr, said she was “shocked” on Twitter while fellow Islander Dom Lever wrote: “Me and Mike Thalassitis may not have seen eye to eye but he was a top guy.”

Lever also suggested that Thalassitis might not have received sufficient support after having appeared on the programme, writing in a subsequent tweet: “You get a psychological evaluation before and after you go on the show but hands down once you are done on the show you don’t get any support unless you’re number one.”

Actor Sheridan Smith described the reality star’s death as a “massive wake-up call”, writing on Twitter: “I feel sick, reach out, sometimes to the most confident friend, we can only learn and try to change.”

Thalassitis was born in Edmonton, London and played football for a number of clubs including Chelmsford and St Albans.

During his stint on Love Island, he earned the nickname “Muggy Mike” after partnering up with Olivia Attwood, who was romantically linked to Chris Hughes at the time.

Hughes was one of the first people to respond to news of Thalassitis’ death. The 35-year-old described him as “a good guy, taken far, far to soon [sic]” in a tweet that has since been liked more than 113,000 times. Hughes also urged people to refer to Thalassitis only using his full name, writing: “His name wasn’t Muggy Mike. Please stop brandishing that.”

Olivia Buckland, who appeared on the second season of Love Island, concurred in a tweet that read: “His name is Mike Thalassitis. All the articles how dare you not use his real name. This is horrendous. I’m in shock. Mike you are going to be sorely sorely missed. My heart is with your family. I’m in complete shock.”

Fellow reality star Joey Essex made a similar statement on Twitter. “People might of known him as muggy but he was far from that, he had a huge heart and was a very down to earth boy [sic],” the former TOWIE cast member wrote.

Other celebrities to pay tribute include former Celebs Go Dating contestant Calum Best, Love Island host Caroline Flack, and footballer Joel Byrom, who played with Thalassitis at Stevenage.

For confidential support on mental health call Samaritans free from any phone, at any time, on 116 123 (UK & RoI) or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US call 1-800-273-TALK or chat online