Paul Danan — you might remember him from Hollyoaks or Celebrity Love Island — passed away back in January. He was only 46. He was found at his home in Brislington, Bristol, and after months of questions, a coroner finally confirmed that his death was caused by a mix of drugs. But it wasn’t suicide — the official word was “misadventure,” which basically means he didn’t mean for it to happen. It was just something that went horribly wrong.
Paul had struggled with addiction for years. He even said once that he spent over a million pounds trying to get clean. The coroner said it wasn’t any one drug that did it — it was the combination of heroin, cocaine, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, and a few others that ended up slowing his breathing until it stopped.
What Actually Happened That Day
From what was shared at the inquest, Paul had gone out drinking the night before with his partner, Melissa. The next day, she couldn’t get in touch with him, and that’s when she knew something wasn’t right. Emergency crews had to climb into his flat using a ladder, and sadly, they found him on the sofa with the TV still on.
He was pronounced dead at 5:20 PM.
His mum, Beverley, shared a really heartbreaking message. She said Paul helped so many people, but just couldn’t help himself the same way. She said his smile and love for life will never be forgotten. That just hits hard.
Paul’s Ongoing Battle With Addiction
If you’ve followed Paul over the years, you probably already know he didn’t hide his struggles. He talked pretty openly about his addiction — even going on The Jeremy Kyle Show to talk about it. He said he started using drugs as a teen and that staying sober was something he had to work at every single day.
What’s even sadder is that he was supposed to be in court the very next day. He’d been charged with drug possession and driving under the influence. But there was no sign he wanted to end his life — the coroner was clear about that. It was just a dangerous mix of drugs that led to a tragic accident.
Remembering Paul: The Light He Shared
After the news broke, a lot of people who knew Paul or had worked with him shared tributes. One that stood out was from Calum Best — they were on Celebrity Love Island together. Calum said Paul was one of the most genuine and kind people he knew. And you could really feel the love in the messages that came pouring in.
Paul also did something pretty amazing a few years ago — in 2020, he started drama classes in Bristol for people who were dealing with addiction, mental health struggles, or had been in prison. He really wanted to give back, to help others even while he was fighting his own battles. His agency said he was a "beacon of light," and honestly, it sounds like he really was.
