Hollyoaks actor and reality TV star Paul Danan died at his home in Brislington, Bristol, from a combination of drugs, including cocaine and heroin, an inquest opening has revealed.
Danan, who was 46, was found unresponsive on January 15 and was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m. Emergency services confirmed his death at the scene, where he was identified by his partner, Melissa Crooks.
At an inquest opening on Tuesday at Avon Coroner’s Court, coroner’s officer Alexis Camp stated, “The circumstances are that Mr Danan was found unresponsive at his home address. Emergency services attended and confirmed he had sadly died. A post-mortem has taken place and samples have been removed for further analysis.”
The provisional cause of death was determined to be the combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine, zopiclone, and benzodiazepines. Senior coroner Maria Voisin has set a full inquest hearing for May 28. Ms. Camp added, “I understand there are no family concerns,” and confirmed that “no note was left” by the actor.
Investigations are ongoing, with statements to be taken from Danan’s GP, family, police, and the ambulance service, as well as inquiries with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
Danan, best known for his role as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks, also gained fame on reality TV shows like Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother. He had long been open about his struggles with addiction, revealing that he had spent over £1 million on rehab. He previously admitted to using cocaine and codeine to “self-soothe” after losing acting roles in his 20s while in the US.
At the time of his death, Danan had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on January 16, facing charges of cocaine and cannabis possession and driving under the influence of drugs in Warrington, Cheshire, on October 2 last year.
Beyond his acting career, Danan dedicated himself to helping others through drama classes in Bristol for adults dealing with mental health issues, addiction, trauma, or time in prison. His management company described him as “a beacon of light to so many,” highlighting his “exceptional talent and unwavering kindness.”
(BBC)
ALSO READ THIS TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then