Joseph Wandera, 27, a former actor from the popular British soap opera “Coronation Street,“ tragically died in Tamarindo, a beach resort in Costa Rica, in January 2022. Wandera had reportedly consumed a mix of drugs at a local dance festival before collapsing in an apartment.
An inquest carried out on September 18, 2024 unveiled that Wandera had ingested a lethal combination of a drug known as “Pink Stuff” and MDMA, frequently referred to as ecstasy. This drug cocktail led to a fatal seizure.
Wandera, who had a stint on the ITV soap in 2018, had traveled to Costa Rica with a friend, Renay Zollner, to attend a music festival. On the day of his death, Wandera had texted his girlfriend admitting to his drug usage and expressing concern about the unknown content of the drugs. He also noted in the text that he had been awake for two days and had been vomiting.
Zollner, who was present with Wandera during the festival, informed investigators that they had procured the drugs from local dealers. Wandera had consumed the drugs a few days prior to his death. Despite immediate medical attention, Wandera could not be saved and was declared dead at the location.
Claire Beatson, Wandera’s mother, expressed her shock at the inquest, stating her disbelief in her son’s use of such harmful substances. Beatson pointed out that this behavior in Costa Rica was unlike him. While Joseph had dabbled with drugs in the past, his actions in Costa Rica were unexpected.
The coroner ruled Wandera’s death as a misadventure, suggesting that Wandera ingested the drugs voluntarily but did not intend to die. The coroner stressed the inherent risks of recreational drug use, characterizing Wandera as a talented and lively person with much to live for.
Although Wandera had suffered a severe assault in 2019, which resulted in broken vertebrae, pathologists confirmed that this injury did not factor in his death. His death was attributed to ketamine and MDMA toxicity. The inquest also disclosed that Wandera had been experiencing serious symptoms before his death, including loss of vision in one eye and numbness on the left side of his body. Despite a friend driving him back to their apartment, Wandera’s condition deteriorated, culminating in the seizure that led to his death.
Joseph Wandera showed considerable promise in his acting career. Aside from his role in “Coronation Street,” he also appeared in “Scott & Bailey” and “Moving On.” Following his appearance on “Coronation Street,” Wandera expressed his gratitude online, acknowledging the support he received and hinting at more exciting projects in the future.
