Joseph Wandera, a 27-year-old actor known for his role in the British soap opera “Coronation Street,” died after taking a lethal combination of drugs in Tamarindo, a beach resort in Costa Rica, in January 2022.
An inquest into Wandera’s death on September 18, 2024, revealed that he had ingested a deadly mixture of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and another drug known as “Pink Stuff,” which resulted in a fatal seizure.
Wandera, who had a role in the ITV soap opera in 2018, traveled to Costa Rica with his 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 stated that he had not slept for two days and had been vomiting. He also expressed his uncertainty about the composition of the drugs he had taken.
Wandera had consumed the drug combination a few days prior to his death. Zollner, who accompanied Wandera at the festival, informed investigators that the drugs were procured from local dealers. Despite immediate calls for an ambulance, paramedics were unable to revive Wandera, and he was declared dead at the scene.
During the inquest, Wandera’s mother, Claire Beatson, expressed her grief and surprise at her son’s use of such hazardous substances. She pointed out that while Wandera had experimented with drugs on occasion, his actions in Costa Rica were not typical for him.
The coroner, in delivering the verdict, cited Wandera’s death as a misadventure, indicating that Wandera had willingly taken the drugs but had not intended to cause his death. The coroner underlined the dangers of recreational drug use and described Wandera as a talented and jovial person with a promising future.
In 2019, Wandera had been severely assaulted, resulting in broken vertebrae; however, pathologists confirmed that this injury did not contribute to his death. His death was instead attributed to the toxicity of ketamine and MDMA. The inquest also unveiled that Wandera had experienced severe symptoms shortly before his death, including loss of vision in one eye and numbness on the left side of his body. Despite being driven back to the apartment by a friend, Wandera’s condition deteriorated, culminating in the seizure that led to his death.
Joseph Wandera had shown great promise in his acting career. Alongside his role in “Coronation Street,” he also featured in “Scott & Bailey” and “Moving On.” Following his appearance on “Coronation Street,” Wandera expressed his excitement on social media, thanking his supporters and hinting at future opportunities.