THE FAMILY of a young man who died suddenly on Friday face an agonising wait of up to two-and-a-half months to discover what killed him.

Gareth Bolwell, from Pantside, Newbridge, who was also known as Smiler, was pronounced dead at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport after becoming ill at his home.

A post-mortem examination on the 21-year-old was inconclusive so blood and toxicology tests have been ordered by detectives investigating his death, which they are treating as suspicious. The results will not be available for up to ten weeks.

Mr Bolwell's family is said to be inconsolable by family liaison officer Detective Sergeant Gwyn Pidgeon.

"Gareth's family are very upset and are finding it extremely difficult to cope with the tragedy," he said. "They have asked if they can be allowed to grieve in peace."

Detectives have appealed to anyone with information about an incident involving Gareth and a friend at 9.30pm on the previous Tuesday, May 18.

They want to question anyone who saw Gareth 'play-fighting' on Coronation Crescent on the Pantside Estate to determine whether it is connected with his death.

A local man was arrested in connection with the death but was released without charge on Sunday night.

Detective Sergeant Stuart Farquaharson, who is leading the investigation, said: "There was a bit of a scuffle on Tuesday night involving Gareth but certainly nothing serious and it may be completely unconnected to the untimely death on Friday.

"At the moment we are not in a position to comment on whether the cause of death was as a result of a blow or natural causes.

"Until the results of the toxicology and blood tests come back the death will be a mystery."