A fundraiser to fly home the body of a podcaster from Manchester who tragically died while on holiday has been launched by her family.
Eden Young – who worked as the Managing Editor of intersectional feminist arts and culture publication, Polyester, and made a name for herself as the co-host of the popular The Polyester Podcast – sadly lost her life in a tragic accident while on holiday in Madrid with her best friend last Thursday (8 June).
She was preparing to do some press work out in the Spanish capital at a festival that she’d revisited for several years with her closest friends.
But a few days before the festival took place, the 29-year-old from Manchester accidentally fell to her death from the accommodation she was staying at, her family has confirmed.
Her family said in a tribute that the news of Eden’s passing had “saddened us more than words can comprehend”.
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Tributes to Eden – who has been described a much-loved figure in the city’s hospitality and cultural arts scene – have also been pouring in online from those who knew and loved her, including from the founder and Editor in Chief of Polyester, Ione Gamble, who called her the “absolute biggest legend”.
Describing her as “funny, smart, and gorgeous”, as well as “the most loyal person I know”, Ione said Eden “loved being an absolute legend in every way” and admitted that “everyone who listens to the podcast knows this”.
“Having [Eden] on the team was the greatest privilege in the world,” Ione concluded.
Eden’s best friend, Gina – who she was on holiday with at the time of her death – also shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, explaining that she “cannot even put into words the depths of pain I am feeling over what has happened”, and that “it still doesn’t feel real.”
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“Dealing with your loss is finding a new way to break my heart minute by minute,” Gina added.
Manchester podcaster Eden Young tragically died while on holiday in Madrid / Credit: Eden Young (via Instagram)
Given the nature of Eden’s death, the costs to fly her body home from Madrid have unfortunately been left to her family – which is why they have decided to set up a GoFundMe page, and have called on the kindness of the Greater Manchester community and wider general public to donate and help them raise the money needed to fund this.
Eden’s brother, Cameron Young, explained on the GoFundMe page that the family simply want to give Eden “the send-off we know she would want and more than deserves”.
“Any donations large or small are much appreciated during this devastating time,” he added.
More than £26,000 has been raised to “help bring Eden home”, at the time of writing, with donations and heartfelt messages continuing to flood in every hour.
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Cameron also explained that the Jack The Lad charity is supporting the family with arrangements to bring Eden’s body home, and that while the majority of the funds raised from the GoFundMe will go towards this, as well as towards funeral costs, he added that “any extra money will be donated to this amazing charity”.
Police appeal for information after pedestrian killed on Mancunian Way followed earlier welfare concern reports
Emily Sergeant
Police are continuing to appeal for information after a pedestrian was killed on Mancunian Way during the early hours.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that the shocking incident occurred at approximately 12:50am on Friday 31 October when it was reported that a Volkswagen Passat had collided with a man in his 20s.
Sadly, the collision was fatal and the pedestrian died at the scene.
The driver of the Volkswagen, a man in his 40s, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Following the incident, subsequent police enquiries have established that a call was made to the force shortly after midnight which reported concern for a man walking on the carriageway, and GMP says it believes the man in that report was the man who was involved in the fatal collision.
Officers were sent out as ‘high priority’ to carry out an extensive search of the surrounding area after the report was made, but it was said that they couldn’t locate him.
#UPDATE | Officers are continuing to appeal for information following the fatal collision on Mancunian Way this morning.
We have referred ourselves to the IPOC after reports that the victim was possibly spotted on the carriageway earlier that morning.
— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) October 31, 2025
Due to this earlier report, GMP has confirmed that it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to look into its response to the search.
The victim’s family is aware, have been updated, and they are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is still appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward, and are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV footage, dashcam, or mobile phone footage from the area in the moments leading up to the incident.
“This is a tragic incident for all involved and we express our deepest condolences to the family of the man who has lost his life, and whom we are doing our utmost to support at this time,” commented Sergeant Andrew Page.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 111 of the 31/10/25, or by using the ‘report tool’ or LiveChat function on the GMP website – www.gmp.police.uk
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Geograph
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Stockport paedophile who abused teen girls in early 2000s handed five extra years in prison
Emily Sergeant
A prolific paedophile who ‘groomed, exploited, and coerced’ teenage girls in the early 2000s has had his sentenced extended.
It was reported on back in June that Christopher Oates, from Stockport, was brought to justice after he subjected vulnerable girls to what Greater Manchester Police (GMP) referred to as a ‘campaign’ of violence and sexual abuse 20 years ago.
Oates was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 years old, and two counts causing / inciting a child aged 13-17 years to prostitution.
He was originally sentenced to 13 years in prison for all his crimes.
But now, following a successful appeal by GMP, working with the survivors and the Crown Prosecution Service, to take the ‘unduly lenient’ sentence to the Court of Appeal, Oates has now been handed an extra five years in prison.
Paedophile who abused teenage girls twenty years ago has sentenced extended by five years after successful appeal
We’ve worked with the survivors and the CPS to take Christopher Oates’ unduly lenient sentence to the Court of Appeal. pic.twitter.com/4yfgjpWxCN
His sentencing increase comes after the 45-year-old groomed one of the survivors from when she was just 14 years old, by providing her with a false sense of security, paying her compliments, and pretending to be her boyfriend, all before he proceeded to ply her with drugs, gifts, and affection, and using the trust and control he gained to persuade her to start sex work on the streets of Manchester.
When the teenage victim began to doubt his intentions and asked to go home, Oates dragged her down an alleyway, violently attacked her, and threatened her with a gun, stating: ‘You do as I say, you’re mine now,’ commanding her to go to her ‘spot’.
It was this incident that prompted the teenager to confide in her mother and support services, and from here, found the strength to move forward with her life, while still courageously supporting the police investigation.
From this investigation, detectives were then able to identify a second teenage victim, a 17-year-old, who Oates also coerced into sex work.
Speaking on Oates’ sentencing increase, DI Eleanor Humphreys, who was a senior investigating officer for this case, said: “We join both victims in expressing our relief and delight that the Court of Appeal has reviewed Oates’ lenient sentence and increased it by five years.
“Oates will now rightly serve consecutive sentences for both victims, meaning that his time behind bars reflects the totality of his offending against both women – whose lives he has so badly impacted.
“We will not relent in ensuring child sex offenders are brought to justice and face the full consequences for their horrific crimes.”