Joseph Wandera, a 27-year-old actor known for his role in the British soap opera “Coronation Street,” tragically died in Tamarindo, a popular beach resort in Costa Rica, in January 2022. Wandera collapsed and died in a friend’s apartment after consuming a lethal mix of drugs at a local dance festival.
An inquest held on September 18, 2024 revealed that Wandera had ingested a dangerous combination of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and another substance referred to as “Pink Stuff.” This deadly mixture led to a fatal seizure shortly after his consumption.
Wandera, who starred in the ITV soap in 2018, traveled to Costa Rica with a friend, Renay Zollner, to attend a music festival. On the day of his death, Wandera sent a text message to his girlfriend admitting his drug use. He expressed that he had been awake for two days and was experiencing vomiting. He also voiced his worry, stating, “I don’t know what’s in the drugs I’ve taken.”
A few days before his death, Wandera had taken the drug cocktail. Zollner, who was with Wandera throughout the festival, informed investigators that they had purchased the drugs from local dealers. Despite immediate medical intervention, the paramedics were unable to resuscitate Wandera, and he was declared dead at the site.
During the inquest, his mother, Claire Beatson, expressed her grief and shock over her son’s lethal drug use. She stated that while Joseph had previously experimented with drugs, his behavior in Costa Rica was unusual and out of character.
The coroner concluded the cause of Wandera’s death as a misadventure, noting that he had willingly consumed the drugs without intending to cause his death. The coroner emphasized the associated risks of recreational drug use and described Wandera as a talented and positive individual with a promising future.
In 2019, Wandera had been seriously assaulted, resulting in broken vertebrae. However, pathologists confirmed that this injury did not contribute to his death. The cause of death was attributed to toxicity from ketamine and MDMA. The inquest also uncovered that Wandera had experienced severe symptoms shortly before his death, such as loss of vision in one eye and numbness on the left side of his body. Despite being driven back to their apartment by a friend, Wandera’s condition deteriorated, leading to the seizure that resulted in his death.
Joseph Wandera’s acting career had shown great promise. Apart from his role in “Coronation Street,” he also had roles in “Scott & Bailey” and “Moving On.” After his appearance on “Coronation Street,” he expressed his enthusiasm online, showing gratitude for the support he received and hinting at future ventures.