Pop Idol star Darius Campbell Danesh’s family thanked everyone for their “love and kindness” after his death and said the singer suffered from chronic neck pain following a car accident.
Mr. Campbell Danesh was found dead in his US apartment in Rochester, Minnesota last month at the age of 41.
He died from “chloroethane inhalation,” the South Minnesota Regional Coroner’s Office confirmed, and his death was declared an accident by the coroner.
Post mortem examination papers listed “toxic effects of chloroethane” and “choking” as responsible for his death.
Chloroethane is a colorless, flammable gas or refrigerated liquid that can be used as a recreational drug.
The Scottish singer-songwriter and actor – known as Darius Danesh when he made his first run for fame on the ITV Popstars show in 2001 – also appeared in the first Pop Idol, which was won by Will Young.
Her debut single, Colourblind, was released in July 2002 and went straight to number one, marking the beginning of a series of top 10 releases.
In a statement, his family said: “The results of medical examinations confirmed that Dario’s death was an accident caused by chloroethane, which is used to treat pain and which tragically led to respiratory arrest.
“Darius was suffering from chronic neck pain following a car accident in 2010.
“We would like to thank everyone for their love and kindness and ask that family privacy be maintained in this difficult time.”
In 2010, Mr. Danesh Campbell spoke with Hello! magazine about the car accident in which he broke his neck.
The singer was a passenger in a Porsche when he hit a wall at 70mph after slipping on oil while on vacation in Spain.
