Former 'Love Island' star Sophie Gradon hanged herself after drinking alcohol and taking cocaine

Former Love Island star Sophie Gradon hanged herself following a cocaine and alcohol binge hours after revealing she was 'struggling with the world' and wanted to 'escape', an inquest heard today.

The 32-year-old sent haunting messages to a friend on the day of her death revealing she had been 'devastated' by the death of close friend Paul Burns, who had 'previously saved her from suicide'. 

She was found by her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong and his brother Ryan at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland, last June, after they forced their way through the front door.  Mr Armstrong, 25, was found dead at his home just 20 days later in the same circumstances. 

The inquest heard the last person she spoke to on the day of her death was friend Sondeep Gill, whom she told she was having 'suicidal thoughts' since Mr Burns' death.

Miss Gradon's parents did not attend the inquest after previously asking for it to be halted in favour of a new investigation. They have been adamant their daughter did not kill herself and dispute the official findings.

Coroner Eric Armstrong, sitting in North Shields, North Tyneside, ruled out third party involvement and added the combination of drink and drugs makes someone '16 times more likely to kill themselves', according to research in the US.