Stand-up was 39

Stand-up Karl Edrik has been reported dead in Goa at the age of 39.

He was a regular drug user and when he turned to comedy in 2006, he based most of his material on his exploits.

His friend Alexandre Frety told Edrik's family the news and posted on his Facebook page this morning: ‘To all of you Karl’s friends, lovers and fellow artists, Karl's body was found dead two days ago in Palolem, Goa. It is the place on Earth he had chosen to heal his wounds and breathe freedom.

‘He made it a paradise and sometimes a roller-coaster to all those who got the pleasure to reach him.’

Edrik’s 2007 Edinburgh show, Hari Krishna and the Philosopher’s Stoned revolved around a brandy-fuelled trip to India involving bisexual hookers, while in the ‘semi-autobiographical’ follow-up, he told of a drugs bust that led to him going on the run around Europe.

Circuit colleagues such as Martin Davis, Mike Belgrave and Nik Coppin posted RIP messages on the Facebook page, while Alex Petty of the Free Festival, where Edrik performed his Edinburgh shows wrote: ‘Really awful to hear this news.’

He also made regular video blogs, including this one:

Published: 24 Mar 2010