Hollyoaks legend Paul Danan has tragically passed away at the age of 46. His management team confirmed the sad news on social media this morning with a heartfelt statement: “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 the respect and privacy for Paul’s family, friend and colleagues. No further comments will be made at this time.”
In a chilling turn of events, the former Love Island star had a near-death experience last year after collapsing at home and being rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital in East London for emergency treatment. He suffered from respiratory failure and pneumonia and spent time in intensive care.
The actor later disclosed that his vaping habit was to blame for the health scare, reports the Mirror.
Reflecting on the incident, Paul told The Sun on Sunday: “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,” he recounted.
Paul revealed that he was connected to a machine in the ICU, with his family being warned that he “might not make it through the night”. Paul had quit smoking in 2021 and turned to vaping, believing it to be the “safest way to smoke”.
However, the TV star soon developed an obsession with vaping. “I saw a YouTube video where someone blew cigarette smoke into cotton wool then did the same with a vape. The cotton wool turned black from the smoke from the cigarette, but the wool remained the same colour after the vape vapour hit it… Off the back of that, in my head – because I have ADHD everything is very visual – I’ve always thought they’d be OK,” he recalled.
He added: “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.”
The actor has been open about his struggles with drug addiction over the years, following several stints in rehab and another near-death experience due to an overdose. Paul previously shared how he was given cocaine on his first day on the set of Channel 4 soap, Hollyoaks, where he played Sol Patrick in the 90s.
Speaking on The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast, Paul recounted his first day. He said: “The day I started there, someone and I am not going to say who, handed me an eighth of cocaine and I didn’t really know much about coke and he was like, ‘welcome’.”
“It was the first day, the first read through, I hadn’t even filmed anything.
Paul has spoken candidly about his struggles with addiction, revealing a harrowing near-death experience on The Jeremy Kyle Show.
He shared that after returning from one of his 17 rehab stints, he met a dealer to buy cocaine to “calm down”, but was given heroin instead, which led to an overdose.
Recounting the terrifying incident, Paul said: “I went to a meeting and went back to my parents’ and told them I was going to sleep. My mum came into the bedroom and heard me making these noises.
“It sounded like I was snoring but it was me choking on my last breaths.
“I was overdosing.”
He continued: “They found me in my bed and they didn’t know what was going on. They didn’t think I’d taken anything because I’d just come back from rehab.”
When Jeremy asked why he persisted with his addiction despite the close call, Paul replied bluntly: “Because I’m an addict.”
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