The soap opera and reality television star Paul Danan died from the combined effects of prescribed and illicit drugs, a coroner has concluded.
Assistant coroner Debbie Rookes ruled that the death of Danan, an actor on the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and known for appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island, was misadventure.
The hearing at Avon coroner’s court in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, was told that Danan was found unresponsive sitting on the sofa in front of the television at his home in Brislington, Bristol, on 15 January.
Emergency services attended and confirmed his death and his body was identified there by his partner, Melissa Crooks.
Rookes said there was no evidence that Danan had intended to take his own life. She said: “Paul Danan was clearly much loved and is very much missed. Mr Danan had a long history of drug misuse and struggles with his mental health. His death was caused by a combination of drugs, both prescription and illicit.
“Paul had struggled with his mental health for many years. I don’t have any evidence before me that Paul intended to take his own life at this time. Therefore, the conclusion is misadventure.”
In a statement his mother, Beverley Danan, told the court: “Paul helped so many people from all walks of life but just couldn’t help himself in the same way. His smiling face and love of life will always be remembered.”
Danan had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington magistrates court on 16 January after being charged with being in possession of cocaine and cannabis, according to court documents. He was also accused of driving while under the influence of drugs on 2 October last year in Warrington, Cheshire.
Danan discussed his substance abuse and recovery on ITV’s The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019, which he said began when he was a teenager. He said he had to “work hard at it every day to keep in recovery”.
Calum Best, the son of the footballer George Best, who took part in reality shows with Danan, described him as one of the “funniest, kindest, and most authentic people I’ve known”.
A statement from Independent Creative Management said: “Paul was a beacon of light to so many. His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him.”
