Declan Donnelly's brother cause of death was a suspected bleed on brain, a close pal has said.
Friend and colleague Father Peter Kyi Maung, who served with Dermott at St Joseph's Church in Stanley, Co. Durham, sad: "He was hardly breathing in the bed, it was so sad. They think he had bleeding on the brain."
Dec's brother was being treated at North Durham hospital after collapsing in his Newcastle parish, reports the Mirror.
It's understood that Dermott was 'extremely unwell' following the incident.
Fr Maung added: "Declan had come to be with him and their mum was there as well, I saw her at the hospital and it was so hard for her, a mother seeing her dying son.
"When she hugged me, I knew how much she was suffering."
A spokesman for Dec added: "It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of Fr Dermott Donnelly who died peacefully this afternoon in hospital surrounded by his family and close friends.
"We ask for the utmost privacy for the Donnelly family at this difficult time."
Dec is one of seven children. He and his siblings were raised on Newcastle's Cruddas Park estate.
Father Dermott took Holy Orders in 1992 in the same cathedral he officiated at his brother's wedding.
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