Former Hollyoaks star Paul Danan has died at the age of just 46, his management revealed today.
In a statement, they said his ‘untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him’ — but did not confirm his cause of death.
The actor, best known for his role as Sol on the Channel 4 soap, as well as appearances on reality shows like Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother, was no stranger to health struggles.
He candidly discussed major medical scares throughout his career — one of which landed him in intensive care, where his family were told he may not make it through the night.
On another occasion, his mother discovered him ‘gagging’ following a drugs binge that nearly cost him his life.
Here, MailOnline documents the numerous health struggles of the troubled star.
Former Hollyoaks star Paul Danan has died at the age of just 46, his management revealed today. Pictured, in 2006
The actor was best known for his role as Sol Patrick on the Channel 4 soap, before appearing on the reality series Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother
Respiratory failure after vaping
Just last June, Paul revealed he was rushed to hospital and brought back to life after his ‘obsessive’ disposable vape usage caused respiratory failure.
He took up the habit in the last couple of years after smoking and even admitted he would ‘go to sleep’ with his vape for comfort.
But in an interview with The Sun he revealed that his habit led him to collapse and he was given CPR by his family while at home.
He then spent a week in intensive care, where he contracted pneumonia.
While in the high dependency unit at Whipps Cross hospital, East London, he said doctors had told his family ‘he might not make it through the night’.
He added: ‘I was dead — it’s a miracle I’m here.
‘I’m upstairs puffing away on my vape then suddenly I lost my breath and collapsed.
‘My family called for an ambulance and started giving me CPR, then police arrived and took over before paramedics took me to hospital.
In 2017, Paul was the fifth star to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother, appearing on the show with Sam Thompson, Amelia Lily and Sarah Harding
Last year Paul revealed that he was brought back to life after his ‘obsessive’ vape usage caused respiratory failure
Paul, who starred in the original series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005, said he was told by doctors that his addiction to e-cigarettes had sparked his collapse and that if he ever smoked or vaped again he risked having to be linked to an oxygen tank later in life.
‘After years of smoking cigarettes and all sorts, it’s the vaping which has done me in. That pushed me over the edge,’ he added.
E-cigs allow users to inhale nicotine in a vapour — which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.
Despite NHS chiefs insisting it is safer than smoking, vaping is not risk-free. E-cigarettes contain harmful toxins and their long-term effects remains a mystery.
Experts are concerned the high nicotine content might increase blood pressure and cause other heart problems.
Doctors have expressed fears there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.
Paul Danan has died at the age of 46, his management has revealed (the actor is pictured in an audition clip he posted to Instagram last week)
Paul’s death was announced in a statement released by his management
Open about his 17 stints in rehab
In 2019, Paul candidly told of how he had sought therapy for his struggles with drugs and alcohol and had undergone ’17 stints in rehab’.
During an appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show, he said: ‘They [rehabs] 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.’
Paul previously admitted his battle with drugs began after he left Hollyoaks in 2001 and moved to Los Angeles in an attempt to make it in Hollywood.
Speaking on the The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast last year, he said: ‘You can’t party and do well in Hollywood. You’ve got to be healthy. It was cool but I ended up getting into the wrong type of routine of using drugs.
‘I can’t handle rejection but I chose the one job that gives you more rejection than any other job. I’m auditioning for big, big movies.
‘A lot of the time my life revolved around getting stoned, going to a gig, doing a pill or coke. There was always drugs involved.’
In 2023, he established the drama school Morning After Drama in Bristol after being awarded a national lottery grant.
As well as helping those battling drug addiction, the drama group supports those who have experienced trauma, serviced time in prison and struggle with mental illness.
After leaving Hollyoaks, Paul appeared on the ITV reality series Celebrity Love Island, where he made headlines with his raucous antics
During his stint on the show, Paul enjoyed a steamy romance with Isabella Hervey
Drug overdose left him choking
While reflecting on his battle with drug addiction on The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast, he also revealed almost died from a heroin overdose after choking.
Following a rehab stint in South Africa, he was prescribed anti-psychotic drugs but he ‘didn’t feel like himself’, he said.
He told the podcast he left his parents’ house and took a ‘detour’ to buy cocaine and heroin ‘which I’d never done before’.
After returning home and snorting the drug he suffered an overdose that saw his mum forced to call an ambulance.
‘My mum found me and I couldn’t breath, it was terrible. Apparently my mum heard me gagging on my last breath. She came into the room and couldn’t wake me up,’ he said.
‘My little brother was next door which was the saddest thing about it because still to this day he’s been traumatised by it.
‘She called the ambulance and luckily they were parked down the end of the road.
‘They came and said what has he taken and she said he doesn’t do drugs. They knew they had to give me the antidote. F**k me, it was Pulp Fiction.
He added: ‘All I could see was my dad’s face at the end of the ambulance.
‘My mum said to me she’d already said goodbye to me. I saw my dad’s face and could see this look of absolute disgust and hate, but relief, “Oh my God, he’s alive”.’
