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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Jessica Sansome

Coroner's warning as Love Island star Sophie Gradon's cause of death revealed

Sophie Gradon's cause of death has been revealed ten months after she took her own life.

The 32-year-old took her own life at her parents' home in Northumberland and was discovered by her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who then tragically killed himself as well 20 days later.

At an inquest in North Shields, North Tyneside, on Thursday, the coroner ruled that Gradon took her own life by hanging after taking cocaine and alcohol.

Coroner Eric Armstrong said there was no evidence of any third party involvement in the reality star's death.

Sophie starred in the 2016 series of ITV2 reality show Love Island (ITV)

Toxicology tests showed she had a blood reading of 201mg per 100ml of blood - around three times the legal driving limit, as well as cocaine.

The coroner said research in the US said the combination was known to make someone 16 times more likely to kill themselves.

He said: "If Sophie's death is to serve any purpose at all, that message should go out far and wide."

Gradon, who starred in the 2016 series of ITV2 dating show Love Island and who was also crowned Miss Newcastle in 2008 and Miss Great Britain the following year, died on June 20 last year.

Sophie was crowned Miss Newcastle in 2008 and Miss Great Britain the following year (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

Her tragic passing was met with shock and an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow reality stars.

Love Island faced more devastating news last month when 2017 contestant Mike Thalassitis.

The 26-year-old was found hanged in a park in Edmonton, north London, in March with police confirming there was no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

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