Perth: Mourners at Hollywood star Heath Ledger's funeral in Perth celebrated the acclaimed actor's life by stripping off and diving into the surf at his favourite beach, reports said today.

Ledger's family held a two-hour service in his hometown of Perth yesterday attended by more than 500 mourners including the young actor's former fiancee Michelle Williams and Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett. After a private funeral for 10 family members only, mourners gathered at a restaurant overlooking Perth's Cottesloe beach, one of Ledger's favourite spots, for a sunset wake.

Scores of family and friends threw off some of their clothes and ran into the water, where they hugged and cheered to celebrate Ledger's life, the reports said. Heath's father Kim Ledger watched from the balcony of the restaurant as mourners whooped and hollered as they ran into the water en masse, The Sunday Telegraph said.

Williams, who appeared distraught as she arrived at the wake on the arm of the actor's sister Kate, was photographed smiling as she stood in the shallows of the beach, her delicate cream dress soaking wet. Ledger, who gained international stardom with his Oscar-nominated performance as a gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain" died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs on January 22.

Source : PTI