Paul Danan's cause of death confirmed as Hollyoaks star's deadly cocktail of drugs revealed

Paul Danan speaks to Lee Anderson a month before his death
GB News
Holly Bishop

By Holly Bishop


Published: 11/03/2025

- 09:55

Updated: 11/03/2025

- 10:36

The reality TV star died aged 46 in January this year

Hollyoaks actor PaulDanan died at his Bristol home from a cocktail of drugs including cocaine and heroin, an inquest opening has heard.

The reality TV star died aged 46 at a property in Brislington on January 15.


At an inquest held at Avon Coroner’s Court, officer Alexis Camp confirmed his cause of death.

He said: "The primary cause was combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone, with a secondary contributory finding of benzodiazepine."

Paul Danan

Paul Danan shot to fame as part of the cast of Hollyoaks in the 1990s

PA

Camp added: “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 actor had recently battled health issues, suffering from respiratory failure in June last year due to what was described as "obsessive" use of vapes.

On January 15, Avon and Somerset Police were called to the home in the Brislington area at around 5.20pm.

The actor could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics and was later identified by his girlfriend Melissa Crooks.

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Paul Danan

Danan was best known for his role as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks

PA
Danan

He later appeared in the original series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005, which was followed years later by a stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017

PA

Camp said: “No note was left.”

As the inquiry continues, statements will be taken from Danan’s GP, family, police, the ambulance service and inquiries are ongoing with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP), she said.

Danan was best known for his role as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks, which he played between 1997 and 2001.

He later appeared in the original series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005, which was followed years later by a stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.

Danan had been open about his struggles with addiction, with entering rehab and trying to recover.

Reports suggest he developed a vaping "addiction" after he quit smoking cigarettes in 2021.

Danan

The former actor passed away in January

PA

He explained: "Everywhere I went I'd have my vape with me. I'd always have one in my hand, I would even go to sleep with it, like a comfort thing."

After collapsing and being rushed to hospital, he received intensive care treatment and also suffered pneumonia.

Danan was given a warning by doctors, who explained he could end up on an oxygen tank if he smoked again.

Last year, he was charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis, along with driving under the influence of drugs.