FORMER footballer Paul Gascoigne is reported to be heartbroken after his 22-year-old nephew was found dead following a long battle with drug addiction.

Jay Kerrigan, 22, an admin worker whose mother Anna is the sister of the former England footballer, was found dead in Warwick Court Gateshead, in the early hours of yesterday (Saturday, May 1).

The 22-year-old, who was employed by Groundwork North East, had posted messages detailing his troubles with addiction and attempts to overcome it.

In January, he wrote: “Addiction is a disease, I was born with it. I haven’t smiled in years, I feel trapped. For heavens sake I’ve just came out of emergency heart surgery and now I’m back on it again.”

His stepfather, Michael, posted a tribute to him on Facebook.

It said: “Broken hearts you’ve left behind, peacefulness you have found, stay safe our shining star, our beautiful son your never far.”

Mr Kerrigan’s cause of death is not known but police do not believe anyone else is involved.

His mother has spent much time trying to help her brother Gazza, who has struggled with a drink and drug problem and mental health issues for much of the last 20 years.

In 2008, she made a public appeal to fans to stop buying him drinks for fear it would kill him.