'Idol' Singer Darius Campbell Danesh's Cause of Death Revealed

Singer Darius Campbell Danesh died from respiratory arrest caused by inhalation of chloroethane, a medical examiner confirmed, per Deadline. The former Pop Idol contestant's death was ruled accidental by the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office. He was found in his Rochester apartment in August.

"The results of medical examinations have confirmed that Darius's death was an accident caused by chloroethane, which is used to treat pain and that tragically lead to respiratory arrest," a statement from his family obtained by Deadline read. "We would like to thank everyone for their love and kindness, and ask that the family's privacy is maintained during this difficult time."

The singer's family revealed Campbell Danesh had been suffering from chronic neck pain following a car accident in 2010, something he often spoke about in interviews. The accident occurred when Campbell Danesh was a passenger in a Porsche when it hit a wall at 70 mph after skidding on oil during a vacation in Spain. He was treated with daily physiotherapy but rejected an operation recommended by doctors because he was concerned that it would damage his vocal cords.

In an unrelated incident, Campbell Danesh had a brush with death in 2017 after drinking sewage water from the River Thames and contracting meningitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The singer was treated with daily physiotherapy but rejected an operation recommended by doctors because he was concerned that it would permanently damage his vocal cords.

He was born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and an Iranian father. He first appeared on the talent format Popstars 20 years ago before finishing third in the first UK Pop Idol on ITV. Campbell Danesh released a UK No. 1 single, "Colourblind." His debut album Dive made the UK top 10 also. He released another album, Live Twice, in 2004. In total, he had five Top 10 UK singles from 2002-07. 

Campbell Danesh also found fame in theater as a West End star, appearing in shows like Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Funny Girl and Gone with the Wind.  In 2011, he married Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge, although they divorced two years later.