I have been struggling with the world Love Island Sophie’s final message before hanging
TRAGIC Love Island star Sophie Gradon hanged herself while high on a cocktail of booze and cocaine, just hours after telling a pal: “If I could escape, I would.”
An inquest heard the 32-year-old – who had battled mental health issues – spoke of how she had “been struggling with the world” in her final conversation.
And coroner Eric Armstrong warned studies show mixing drink and cocaine makes people 16 times more likely to commit suicide. He said: “If Sophie’s death is to serve any purpose, I think that message should go out far and wide.”
Boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, 25, discovered Sophie’s body at her parents’ home in Ponteland, near Newcastle, on June 20 last year. The hearing was told Aaron – who took his own life 20 days later – tried to revive her, even though “she was cold and stiff, and her arms had turned blue”.
A postmortem found 201mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – around two-and-ahalf times the drink-drive limit – and 0.4mg of cocaine per litre of blood, along with the anti-depressant Sertraline, which Sophie had been taking since 2013.
The inquest in North Shields, North Tyneside, heard the last person she spoke to was pal Sonny Gill.
She expressed sorrow at the death of Newcastle restaurateur Paul Burns and told of her depres
ON DANGERS OF MIXING BOOZE & COKE
sion and disorder.
Det Sgt Neil Jobling described Sophie, who was on Love Island in 2016 and worked in digital marketing, as being “in the public eye” and a high-profile figure. He said of her final contact with Sonny: “They spoke about [Paul Burns’] death. She later sent a message saying she could not figure out life but she was trying to and told him, ‘Don’t tell about this, never judge but always be there to give love and help’.
“She added ‘I can’t do this any more’ and ‘I struggle with ADD every day’. She then said, ‘I would never want to do this to my family but if I could escape, I would.’ She also told him, ‘I have been struggling with the world, no one knows why or how’.”
DS Jobling said that by 2.40am, her speech was attention deficit slurred and she “repeating herself ”.
Ruling Sophie died of pressure on the neck due to hanging, Mr Armstrong said: “There is concern about mixing alcohol and cocaine. The combination is used by those who believe it brings on a high quicker. But it is also thought to give rise to violent thoughts which can be was directed against the self.” After the inquest, her parents Deborah and Colin denied cocaine and booze contributed, saying the postmortem also found Sophie had a brain arteriovenous malformation – tangled blood vessels.
They said that two experts told them it would influence her behaviour and state of mind.
Their statement said: “Sophie started to become symptomatic in December 2017. We noted an acute change in behaviour.”
Meanwhile, Love Island 2017 star Mike Thalassitis, 26, was found dead last month, prompting UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock to urge reality shows to do more for their stars.
ITV has said an independent GP will now check contestants. The channel will also offer therapy and help with social media and financial management.
It gives rise to violent thoughts which can be directed on the self CORONER