Hollyoaks legend Paul Danan has died aged 46 as tributes pour in for the star who narrowly escaped a tragic fate last year.
Tributes have poured in for the actor turned reality star on social media after his death was announced on Instagram on Thursday (January 16), sadly making him the second Hollyoaks star to pass away this week.
The tragic news was announced by Independent Creative Pr on Instagram which penned: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old.
“Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many.
“His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him. During this difficult time, we kindly request respect and privacy for Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues.”
Before finishing with: “No further comments will be made at this time.”
Paul is best known for playing Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks and for starring in the original series of Celebrity Love Island back in 2005.
In 2006, he hosted an ITV2 series titled Test Drive My Girlfriend and later that year fronted Calum, Fran and Dangerous Danan on the same channel. For this, in he traveled from Texas to Los Angeles on America’s U.S. Route 66 with Calum Best and Fran Cosgrave.
The TV star was also a contestant on the 20th season of Celebrity Big Brother that was broadcast in August 2017. In 2019, he appeared in an episode of The Jeremy Kyle Show where he discussed his struggles with substance addiction, here he admitted to being a recovering addict.
In January 2022, he did a stint on E4‘s Celebrity Coach Trip where he was partnered with former Team GB athlete Ashley McKenzie and travelled across Northern Portugal.
In recent years, he lived in Hertfordshire, where he ran a drama club for local children. He is survived by a son called Deniro who was born in September 2015.
In June last year, Paul claimed that he was brought back to life after his “obsessive” vape addiction caused respiratory failure.
At the time, he told The Sun: “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.
“I was on a machine in ICU and ended up with pneumonia. My family were warned I might not make it through the night. I’m so lucky.
“The doctor was so, so harsh with me. She told me, ‘Paul, you don’t know how serious this was and you are going to be in here for a while now, on this oxygen’.”
For years, Paul had smoked cigarettes before switching to vapes which he “go to sleep with” for comfort, after watching a YouTube video which said it was “safer” than smoking.
In recent chats, he claimed he was clean from alcohol and drugs for the past three years.