11:41am UK, Wednesday February 27, 2008

John Kelly in Dublin

The Irish model Katy French, who fell into a coma on Sunday, has died in hospital.

180 Katy French 2 (Irish model)

Police will probe model's collapse

Instatement her family said: "Katy has passed away peacefully in the arms of her sister Jill and alongside her Mum and Dad.

"Her family thanks everyone so much for all the prayers and support and especially all the staff in Navan Hospital who gave her special care and attention throughout.

"We have been overwhelmed by the letters, blessings, gifts and prayers from people all over the country.  It gave us strength and helped Katy so much.

"Although we did not get our yearned for miracle, all the expressions of love you sent her were powerfully healing in different ways."

Police in Ireland have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 24-yr-old's death.

Initial reports claimed that Ms French collapsed at a house party in Ashbourne, County Meath, in the early hours of Sunday morning and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

But press reports today claim that she was visiting friends at a house in Kilmessan, several miles from Ashbourne, when she was suddenly taken ill.

It has also been claimed that she was driven the eight miles to hospital by friends, rather than in an ambulance.