Paul Danan ‘found dead on sofa with TV still on after taking lethal cocktail of drugs' – as coroner gives tragic ruling

The Irish Sun

28-05-2025

TRAGIC Paul Danan's death has been ruled as a "misadventure" after the star died from a cocktail of drugs.
The former Hollyoaks and Love Island star, 46, was discovered unresponsive at his apartment in Bristol on January 15.
5
Paul Danan was tragically found dead in January
Credit: Getty
5
The former Love Island star had battled with addiction
Credit: Rex
An inquest heard his cause of death was a "combined toxicity" of drugs, including heroin, methadone and cocaine.
Tests also found he had traces of prescription medication in his system.
A coroner today concluded Paul's death as a misadventure.
Avon and
Somerset
Police previously confirmed they were called to the home in the Brislington area at around 5.20pm.
Tragically, Paul could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
Officers confirmed they were not treating the reality star's death as suspicious.
Paul rose to fame in 1997 playing badboy Sol Patrick on Hollyoaks for four years.
He was also a contestant on
Celebrity
Love Island in 2005 and 2006.
Most read in Showbiz
Paul
appeared in the 2006
ITV2
reality show Calum, Fran And Dangerous Danan, which saw the actor, former
Westlife
bodyguard Fran Cosgrave and
George Best
's son
Calum Best
travel across the US.
In 2017, he took part in Celebrity Big Brother, which he said hoped would give him a "second chance" at his career.
Paul Danan's haunting final instagram post revealed just days before tragic death aged 46
Other appearances included
Celebrity
Coach Trip, and
Channel 4
sketch comedy programme The Kevin Bishop Show.
Away from the screen, Paul battled demons including substance abuse, which he discussed on
The
Jeremy Kyle
Show in 2019
.
The troubled star told how he battled a
cocaine addiction and revealed
Paul, dad to nine-year-old DeNiro, had been
He was charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis, along with
driving
under the influence of
drugs
last October.
The star also opened up about his
health
issues to The Sun last year - revealing that he suffered respiratory failure triggered by his
He then spent a week in intensive care, where he contracted pneumonia.
Afterwards, Paul said: 'I was dead — it's a miracle I'm here. I'm so lucky.'
Inside Paul Danan's tragic battle to beat vape 'obsession' & drug demons
PAUL Danan struggled with his health for years prior to his death aged 46.
The
It comes after he faced
Paul battled a history of cocaine addiction and previously revealed
In June last year, he also told of how he had to be brought back to life after suffering respiratory failure triggered by his addiction to vapes.
Paul took up the habit after years of smoking, before collapsing and being given CPR as he was rushed to hospital.
He then spent a week in intensive care, where he contracted pneumonia.
During an appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019, Paul told of how he had sought therapy over his health struggles as he continually relapsed.
Speaking at the time, he said: "I've had 17 stints in rehab. They do work. They're amazing.
"They've saved my life many times but it's maintenance and it's about sustaining that recovery and not putting anything before that recovery - even my little boy, who I love to death."
In August 2017, Paul told of how he died and was brought back to life after snorting heroin.
He would have lost his life had his mum not heard him gasping for breath in his bedroom and called for an ambulance.
Paul said: "My mum found me in my bed and I was making these weird noises and choking on my last breath.
'The ambulance was down the road thankfully, but by the time they arrived I was dead and they brought me back to life."
He revealed how his battles stemmed from a motorbike accident in 2010 that saw him develop an addiction to painkillers.
Paul had been in and out of rehab as early as 2006 and 2007, but said the accident caused him to spiral.
Following appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Coach Trip, Paul then opened up on how he shouldn't have been allowed to take part in reality TV shows.
After being shown a clip of himself drunkenly fighting with Calum Best during the one-off series Calum, Fran and Dangerous Danan, he said: "I should never have done any of those shows really because I wasn't well. I'm not well."
Tributes flooded in for the "exceptional talent" following the tragedy.
Calum Best, the son of footballer George, described him as one of the 'funniest, kindest, and most authentic people I've known'.
In an
Instagram
post, he said: "Paul was truly a creative genius too having all of us laughing our a**es off at his insta profile he made to rinse a certain era of celeb culture we lived.
'Life wasn't always easy for him, but he faced it with such heart and courage, and that inspired so many of us.
'We shared many laughs, chats, and unforgettable moments. My heart goes out to his loved ones right now. Rest easy, brother.'
TV presenter
She said: "He was a friend of mine and he was the most delightful person.
'You know, when someone comes in and you just know that the whole evening's going to be fabulous because he's going to be funny and he's going to be lively.
'He's going to be, you know, telling you stories he shouldn't have told you and telling you not to tell anyone and you immediately tell everyone.
'You know, he was funny and lively and lovely and warm and a fantastically gifted actor."
Read more on the Irish Sun
While Bafta-winning actor writer, director, and producer Adam Deacon said Paul was a 'genuinely kind and compassionate person'.
Paul was laid to rest in an
Boyzone
's
5
Paul appeared on Celebrity Big Brother
Credit: PA:Press Association
5
He had previously opened up about his demons
Credit: Getty
5
Glowing tributes were made to Paul after his tragic death