Sophie Gradon: Aaron Armstrong killed himself after girlfriend's death Published duration 19 March 2019

image copyright Instagram image caption Aaron Armstrong died 20 days after his girlfriend Sophie Gradon

A man killed himself days after the death of his Love Island star girlfriend, a coroner has found.

Aaron Armstrong died on 10 July, 20 days after the death of Sophie Gradon , 32, who appeared on the 2016 series of the ITV2 dating show.

Northumberland South coroner Eric Armstrong said the 25-year-old hanged himself after drinking alcohol and taking cocaine.

Miss Gradon's inquest has been postponed.

It had been due to be held on Thursday, but the coroner agreed to the deferment.

image copyright PA image caption Sophie Gradon appeared on Love Island in 2016 having been crowned Miss Newcastle and Miss Great Britain in 2009

Northumbria Police said it was still treating her death as non-suspicious and was preparing a file for the coroner.

Responding to media reports that new information had come to light, a force spokeswoman said: "There's no new evidence.

"The family have been sent the coroner's report ahead of the inquest and they've requested more time to read it."

Mr Armstrong was found dead at his home on Furnace Road in Bebside, Blyth, at about 12:20 on 10 July.

His mother Donna Armstrong said he had been "hysterical" when he discovered Ms Gradon's body, while a friend who was with him the day before his death said he had been in a "bad place".

The coroner said Mr Armstrong's thinking could have been "muddled" by the death of Miss Gradon, whom he had met on a night out in Newcastle in May.

He concluded Mr Armstrong, having consumed alcohol and cocaine which "prevented him thinking rationally", took his own life by hanging.

Miss Gradon, who was crowned Miss Newcastle and Miss Great Britain in 2009, died at her family home in Medburn, Ponteland.

The day before he died, Mr Armstrong posted an emotional message to Miss Gradon on Instagram saying: "Not a minute goes by without your gorgeous smile being a picture in my mind."

image copyright AFP

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