Matthew stewardson biography

ACTOR and former Idols presenter Matthew Stewardson was at his "happiest" in the days before his death, his sister Joanne Pienaar said.

Stewardson, who had a history of drug abuse, collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack at Jeffrey's Bay beach on Friday while at a surfing class - the day before his 36th birthday.

"I spoke to him two hours before he died and he was at his happiest," said Pienaar who was due to spend time with her brother over Christmas.

"He was not ill at all - he had a history of drug abuse and he was on the road to recovery again but maybe .

you never know if it was interrelated."

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Marrianette Olivier said he collapsed on the beach. "He died at 3pm on Friday.

"People who saw it called a lifeguard and paramedics, but he was already dead," she said.

Stewardson's other sister, Cheryl Cawood, said they suspected "secondary drowning", but they