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News virall yesterday that the actor and performer best known for starring as Tinky Winky in Teletubbies had sadly died at the age of 52. Simon Shelton Barnes' family and friends confirmed that he died last Wednesday, just days after celebrating his 52nd birthday. Police then confirmed yesterday that they found Simon Shelton Barnes' body at around on 17 January, and it has now emerged that he's believed to have died from 'hypothermia', the Mail and other media outlets report. His death is not being treated as suspicious by police, with one neighbour or friend reportedly saying: “We don't know many details, but we understand he collapsed in the street and possibly died of hypothermia.“ A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “We have confirmed some details about the death of Simon Shelton Barnes. “We were called to the Mann Island area of Liverpool on January 17 at about in the morning to reports of a man being found deceased. Shelton Barnes played Tinky Winky in 14 episodes of the show between the years of 1998 - 2001 after the original actor Dave Thompson left the show in 1997. When speaking of his time on the show, Barnes compared his role on the show with being a rock star for children. He said: “I started my career as a ballet dancer and had just started working as a choreographer. I thought it was a bit of a risky move but it certainly paid off. “We used to receive a lot of fan mail from kids and parents. I suppose we were a bit like the Beatles or the Take That of children's television.“ The Inbetweeners actress and Shelton Barnes' niece, Emily Atack posted on Instagram: “My wonderful uncle Simon Barnes has been taken from us all so suddenly. “The kindest and most talented man you could ever wish to meet. Loved by all who knew him, and will be forever. X.“ “There are no suspicious circumstances so anything else around this tragedy we are referring to the coroners.“ His son Henry also left a poignant tribute to his late father on Facebook. He said: “I lost my lovely dad on Wednesday, he was the kindest and most gentle man I knew and I love him more than anything!!!! “I always used to be embarrassed as a child that he was a dancer and an actor but now I couldn't be more proud! He is in a better place now and I know he wouldn't want me to be sad, so I'm going to live my life the way he would want me to.“
