An inquest has uncovered disturbing new details about the final hours of the “Hollyoaks” actor, who died unexpectedly at 46.
Paul Danan, the actor known for his appearances on British reality television, died by misadventure after taking a combination of drugs, a coroner has ruled.
An inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court, led by assistant coroner Deborah Rookes, concluded that Danan died from “fatal respiratory depression” caused by the combined toxicity of multiple drugs, including heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine, zopiclone, and benzodiazepines.
Rookes explained that although none of the substances were individually fatal, their combined effect proved lethal.
Later in the hearing, Rookes addressed Danan’s personal history and state of mind. She noted his longstanding struggles with addiction and mental health, as well as a previous accidental overdose in May 2024.
However, she made clear, “I don’t have any evidence before me that Paul intended to take his own life at this time. Therefore, the conclusion is misadventure.” She added that Danan was “clearly much loved and is very much missed.”
Following the coroner’s conclusion, the inquest also heard written statements from emergency personnel, medical professionals, and Danan’s mother, Beverley Danan. Her statement read, “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 was found slumped on his sofa with the television on at his flat in Brislington, Bristol, on January 15. Emergency services used a ladder to access the first-floor property after his partner, Melissa Crooks, raised the alarm when she was unable to reach him following a night out.
The coroner’s officer, Alexis Camp, confirmed that Danan’s body was identified at the scene by Crooks. “Emergency services attended and confirmed he had sadly died,” Camp said. Danan was pronounced dead at 17:20 GMT (12:20 p.m. ET).
A postmortem examination was conducted, and additional samples were collected for further analysis. No note was found at the scene, and Camp said there were no concerns raised by the family.
Danan rose to fame in the late 1990s as Sol Patrick in “Hollyoaks” and later became a familiar figure on reality shows such as “Celebrity Big Brother” and “Celebrity Love Island.”
The day after Danan’s death, his representative released a public statement on Instagram. It described him as “a beacon of light to so many” and asked for privacy on behalf of his family, friends, and colleagues. The statement read, “His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him.”
That same day, The Sun on Sunday published an interview in which Danan shared details about a recent health scare linked to his vape use. He collapsed at his parents’ home after suddenly losing his breath while vaping. “I was dead — it’s a miracle I’m here,” he said.
He was taken to the hospital, placed in intensive care, and diagnosed with pneumonia. According to Danan, doctors warned him that if he continued smoking in any form, he risked becoming permanently reliant on oxygen. “It’s the vaping which has done me in. That pushed me over the edge,” he recalled.
In a separate interview with The Sun, published just days earlier on March 4, Danan had spoken at length about his history of addiction, his relapse during the COVID-19 lockdown, and his recovery. After a period of sobriety and success producing his podcast “The Morning After,” he moved back in with his parents in Essex during lockdown.
