Love Island star Mike Thalassitis was found dead in woodland after downing a cocktail of alcohol and cocaine, an inquest heard today.

The 26-year-old ex-footballer, who played for Ebbsfleet and Margate, was found hanged by a woman out jogging near his home in Edmonton, north London, on Saturday March 16.

North London Coroner's Court heard a black notebook was found near his body that was "a combination of a diary, letters and positive thoughts" and contained letters to his family in the back.

Scroll down to listen to our special podcast following his death.

The full inquest, which lasted for around 30 minutes, had been fast-tracked, although it was not explained why.

The only evidence given was that of the post-mortem, a toxicology report, and a brief statement from the jogger who found the celebrity's body.

The PC who found Mike also gave evidence for around five minutes.

Senior Coroner Andrew Walker said: "I listed this matter as a fast-track matter.

"The witnesses I chose were chosen together with the family who I have been in contact with as witnesses I felt best able to deal with the inquest."

PC Emma Clauson told the inquest: "Where we found Michael Thalassitis there was a black notebook.

"I looked through the notebook which was a combination of a diary, letters and positive thoughts.

"At the back there was a number of notes that had been addressed to his family."

In relation to the letters found in the back of Mike's notepad, the Coroner said: "There's a clear intention within the notes that Mike Thalassitis's life should come to an end.

"In order to deal with the notes what I propose to do is to is to summarise them.

"That is to say there were a number of notes left behind and messages in which Mr Thalassitis clearly set out his intention that his life should come to an end."

The court heard a toxicology report found traces of anti-depressant Fluoxetine in his blood at a 'therapeutic' level and low levels of paracetamol - although doctors could not rule out that there may have been a higher concentration of the painkiller in his blood.

The Coroner said: "Toxicology found the presence of cocaine, ethanol, Fluoxetine and paracetamol.

"The ethanol concentration is consistent with alcohol intoxication.

"Sheffield NHS Teaching Hospitals found the level of Fluoxetine was therapeutic and there was evidence of paracetamol use - low use but it does not exclude previous excessive concentration."

Recording a verdict of suicide and confirming a cause of death as cerebral hypoxia and hanging, Mr Walker said: "There were no suspicious circumstances.

"The summary of the notes set out plainly as far as I can see that Mr Thalassitis' intention was that his life came to an end" - senior coroner Andrew Walker

"It seems to me that I can be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Mike Thalassitis did voluntarily do an act namely hanged himself from the branch of a tree while he was conscious of what he was doing.

"The summary of the notes set out plainly as far as I can see that Mr Thalassitis' intention was that his life came to an end."

Mike, who featured in the third season of the ITV reality show in 2017, was a semi-pro footballer and had plans to set up a restaurant in Essex with fellow footballer Scott Neilson at the time of his death.

The Cypriot striker played for teams including Stevenage, Ebbsfleet United, Boreham Wood, St Albans City, Margate, Hemel Hempstead Town, Chelmsford and Welling United.

After Love Island, Mike also appeared on the fourth series of Celebs Go Dating on E4.

Listen to KentOnline's special podcast following his death.

The fifth season of the hit-reality TV show aired on Monday and paid tribute to the late contestant after the credits had rolled.

A black screen appeared alongside a photo of Thalassitis and a message that read: “In loving memory of Mike Thalassitis 1993 - 2019”.

Mike is the second former contestant to have taken their own life since the series began in 2005 and was re-booted in 2015.

Model Sophie Gradon, 32, appeared on the second series of the reboot and was found dead in June 2018.

The pair's deaths sparked a public outcry for better aftercare of the contestants by producers.

Mike's former Ebbsfleet manager Steve Brown paid tribute to the star shortly after his death.

His death and more recently that of Steve Dymond, a guest on the Jeremy Kyle show, prompted questions about whether reality TV shows go too far.

Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins also called for an "urgent review"into how such shows protect the welfare of their guests .

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