Former Pop Idol performer and chart-topping singer Darius Campbell Danesh died from “inhalation of chloroethane”, the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed.
The musician and actor was found dead in his US apartment, in Rochester, Minnesota, last month at the age of 41.
Autopsy documents obtained by the PA news agency listed “toxic effects of chloroethane” as well as “suffocation” as having contributed to his death.
The death was ruled an accident by the medical examiner.
A statement released by Darius’ family previously said local police had found “no signs of intent or suspicious circumstances”.
The Scottish star – who was initially known as just Darius Danesh when he made his first bid for fame in ITV show Popstars in 2001 – also appeared on the first series of Pop Idol, which was won by Will Young.
After Pop Idol, Darius turned down Simon Cowell’s offer of a record deal and signed with producer Steve Lillywhite, whose credits include U2 and the Rolling Stones.
Fellow Pop Idol finalists Will Young and Gareth Gates paid tribute to the singer after his death was announced, describing him as “driven, courageous and gentle”.
In a heartfelt tribute, Will wrote: “For the past few days my thoughts have been with Darius’s family and will continue to be so.
“I found this picture a while ago taken during Pop Idol. If there was ever an example of not giving up on your dreams then Darius is top of the pile.
“Driven, courageous and gentle. My love goes to his family at this time x”
Meanwhile, Gareth recalled that Darius had taken him “under his wing” during their time on the show and had been “like a big brother, always looking out for me”.
“I will miss our chats. He was one of the most beautiful, intelligent and gentle souls I was lucky enough to know, a soul that lit up every room,” he said in his own tribute.
Music mogul Simon Cowell also paid tribute to the Colourblind singer, as did Hollywood actor Gerard Butler, with whom Darius was close friends.
Gerard wrote that his late friend had a “barely containable zest for life” and the “heart of a lion”.
“To those lucky enough to have met Darius for more than a few minutes, they were deeply moved by his infectious laugh and barely containable zest for life,” he wrote.
“He was always armed with a smile, a booming voice, and a genuinely warm embrace that few could resist-nor would they want to!
“He was an incredible talent, a singer whose voice touched your soul and an actor with great presence.
“But, most importantly, he had the heart of a lion. It was bigger and brighter than the sun and an energy so contagious he could light up a room in seconds.”
The 300 actor added that his friend was driven to “inspire others to better themselves”.
Darius’ debut single, Colourblind, was released in July 2002 and went straight to number one, marking the start of a run of top 10 releases.
Following his death the song re-entered music charts and several days later took the top spot on the iTunes download chart.
Darius’ family said in a statement that he had been “found unresponsive in bed in his apartment room in Rochester, Minnesota, on 11 August and was pronounced dead in the afternoon by the local medical examiners’ office”.