Renowned Dutch hairstylist found dead in Rawalpindi hotel

Police say initial investigations, medical history suggest he suffered cardiac arrest but autopsy report awaited

RAWALPINDI: An international hairstylist and master trainer was found dead in his hotel room in Rawalpindi the other day. He was in the country to offer master training.

Dutch hairstylist Stephan Keller was a master trainer at the renowned hair-styling establishment Balmain Paris Hair Couture.

According to the Rawalpindi Civil Lines police, Keller had arrived in the country on February 24 via Dubai. After spending a few days in Peshawar and conducting an intensive workshop, he had travelled to the twin cities early on the evening of February 26 and checked into a well-reputed hotel on Mall Road in Rawalpindi. He was due to depart for Peshawar the following morning.

When representatives of the sponsoring company arrived at the hotel the next morning to take him to their next assignment, Keller failed to show up.

They tried to contact his room and his mobile device but received no answer. They finally decided to try his room but found it locked with no response from the other side.

The hotel administration then opened the door to the room. Inside, they found 59-year-old Keller lying motionless on the floor. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to the hospital.

At the hospital, doctors pronounced him dead. His body was then moved to the mortuary of the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) for a postmortem to ascertain the exact causes of death.

Civil Lines Police Station SHO Mian Imran said that when they searched Keller’s room, they found two bottles of cold drinks and medicine for gastric problems.

SHO Imran further told Daily Express that the multinational company, which had invited Keller to visit Pakistan, manufactures hair colours.

He added that after Peshawar, Keller was supposed to go to Gujranwala and a few other cities as part of his trip.

Stating that initial investigations pointed towards a cardiac arrest as the possible cause of death, Imran said that when Keller’s history was checked, it was found that he had undergone a checkup from a cardiologist before visiting Pakistan.

However, the exact cause of death could only be ascertained once his postmortem reports are received, said the police officer, adding that samples had been sent to a forensic lab for chemical analysis.

Once their report arrives, the situation will become further clear.

Confirming that his body had been shifted to the DHQ morgue, Imran said that the body had been preserved while all related officials have been informed to arrange for transporting the body back to his native country.

“As soon as the legal formalities are completed, the body will be handed over to the related officials and sent to his country,” Imran said.

This was not Keller’s first trip to Pakistan, having conducted multiple workshops in the country in recent years.

"Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts,” read a Facebook message written by Talat Shan, who runs a hair academy and Salon in Karachi.

“Just two days ago Stephan Keller and I were discussing the agenda for the mega event 'Advance Hair Seminar (Male)', can't believe that he is not between us anymore,” she wrote, adding, “Stephen Keller was such a gem of a person and surely a great loss for the industry. You will be truly missed.”

Meanwhile, messages of condolence flooded Keller’s wife Marianne.