A CHART topping singer has revealed the tragic loss of her little brother after his “courageous” decade-long battle.
Classical vocalist Hayley Westenra, 38, took to her Instagram page to pour out her heartache and share a series of tender snaps in tribute to Isaac Ireland Westenra.
The Amazing Grace songstress told how her younger sibling was battling with his metal health and a diagnoses of schizophrenia which “robbed him of so much”.
She started her gallery with a snapshot showing her looking adoringly at him, before they posed together in a photo booth.
Hayley’s final image showed Isaac wearing a black jacket and hoodie and posing in a restaurant.
In her lengthy caption, she explained the context of the images as well as her raw emotion.
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She wrote: “My little brother left this world a few months ago. I don’t feel entirely ready to share this, but I don’t think I ever will.
“He was highly intelligent, deeply sensitive, incredibly creative and musical and just a sweet, old soul.
‘He battled for a courageous decade with schizophrenia, which robbed him of so much.
“Still, I remember our hangs, driving round town listening to tunes, knowing I could be completely myself with him and he would be like ‘cool, sis’.
“Non-judgmental. Understand my humour.
“Always appreciative of these simple moments. Taking him out for waffles. Walking and talking. I’m grateful for the moments we shared this year especially, grateful we were in the same city.
“I miss you so much, Isaac. Isaac Ireland Westenra.”
She then added: “First pic is us at a Julia & Angus Stone gig.
“Second is in London. Last photo is our last hang a week or so before you left this world.”
Fans were quick to react to her loss and one wrote: “Fly high Isaac. I’m so sorry Hayley, sending so much love xxx”
A second put: “Sending you love and prayers during this time I have also lost s brother and my father so I understand your pain.’
Hayley, who lives in her native New Zealand, then took to her comments section to express her gratitude for the support.
She wrote to fans and friends: “Your thoughtfulness has blown me away,
“Thank you so much for all the beautiful msgs & your memories of Isaac.”
Her sister, Sophie Westenra is based in the UK and works as a lecturer in Law at Keble College in Oxford.
It has been a rough year for the singer, whose first international album Pure reached number one on the UK classical charts in 2003.
Over the summer, she again took to her social media page to reveal her “heart was broken into a million places” after the murder of her “surrogate aunty and uncle Robin & Tom.”
She told how she had penned songs with Tom, before posting one of their creations to her page.
