The 32-year-old was found by her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, 25 – who took his life five days after her funeral, after taking a similar drink and drugs cocktail. In a chilling final Instagram post, the reality star said: “If I could escape, I would,” the inquest in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, heard. Tests showed Ms Gradon had a reading of 201mg per 100ml of blood – about three times the legal driving limit – alongside the Class A drug.
In a warning about the perils of mixing drink and drugs, Coroner Eric Armstrong said he was “certain she would not have acted as she did without taking alcohol and cocaine”. He added: “The combination is used by those who believe it brings on a so-called high much quicker. What they do not appreciate is it also gives rise to violent thoughts.
“If Sophie’s death is to serve any purpose at all, that message must go out far and wide.”
The inquest was told the former Miss Great Britain was battling depression and had been chatting online to her friend Sondeep Gill for nearly an hour on the day she was found dead. Ms Gradon told Mr Gill: “I cannot do this any more. I struggle every day with my ADD [Attention Deficit Disorder]. I would never want to do that to my family but if I could escape, I would.
“I have been struggling with the world, no one knows why or how.”
Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Armstrong said he could not deliver a suicide verdict, but ruled out third-party involvement.
Another Love Island contestant, footballer Mike Thalassitis, was found dead last month and Health Secretary Matt Hancock called for reality shows to give more support to their stars.