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Heath Ledger's father has made a heartbreaking visit to his
son's apartment in New York, just a week after the 28-year-old
Australian actor's death.
Kim Ledger was escorted inside the Broome Street apartment
building, in Manhattan's SoHo district, through a back entrance on
Wednesday morning.
He spent about an hour in Apartment 4 with several security guards,
the New York Daily News reported.
The New York Post's PageSix.com said building superintendent Tamba
Mossa took Ledger to a small memorial in the garden and
basement.
When he saw the memorial, made by other residents of the apartment
block, he stopped, seemed happy, and said: "It's beautiful."
Mossa told PageSix.com he had spoken to Ledger and Heath's
assistant about returning to collect the actor's belongings.
As he left, Ledger did not speak to well-wishers who are still
leaving flowers in front of the building.
Perth-born Ledger, nominated for an Oscar for his role as a gay
cowboy in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, was found dead in the
$24,000 (NZ$30,885) -a-month rental apartment last Tuesday.
A post-mortem examination failed to find a cause of death and the
coroner is awaiting toxicology test results.
However, police sources believe Ledger died from an accidental
overdose of prescription drugs.
No illegal drugs were found in the apartment, but six different
prescription medications were - mostly sleeping pills and
anti-anxiety drugs.
Kim Ledger had been in Los Angeles until Tuesday for his
son's memorial service.
He flew to New York last night and is expected to fly back to the
family's home in Perth for a funeral.
Perth's two main funeral directors - Bowra and O'Dea and Purslowe
Funerals - deny they are handling arrangements.
However, industry sources say whoever is handling the service would
most likely be instructed to maintain secrecy.
Ledger's former school in Perth, Guildford Grammar high school, has
offered to hold a service or memorial.
School spokesman Graeme Plummer says Ledger's family has yet to
indicate whether it wants a service at the school chapel.
"We will mention Heath in our prayers at our first service (of the
school year)," Plummer said.
A private memorial service for family and close friends, including
former girlfriend Naomi Watts, was held late last week in LA.
Ledger's former fiancee Michelle Williams, the mother of their
two-year-old daughter Matilda, also attended.
The couple separated last September.
Meanwhile, there are US reports an imposter has been ringing
celebrities trying to pass himself off as Kim Ledger.
