A flamboyant entrepreneur who made toys used by millions of children around the world for 25 years took his own life when the business began to go under.
David Strang, 52, made toys including supersized bouncy balls and indoor boomerangs that were sold at outlets including Hamleys, Walmart, Sports Direct and Amazon.
Strang also excelled as gate crasher, sneaking his way into events like the Oscars, the Baftas and the Brits – and over the years took selfies with the likes of Halle Berry, Kate Hudson, Tom Jones, Dizzee Rascal, Anne-Marie and Steven Tyler.
Strang, who set up his company Wicked Vision at 26 and enjoyed huge success for 20 years, once even talked his way into a party at popstar Prince’s house.
But when expansion plans failed and he began to get consumed by loan debt he threw himself in front of a train.
After his death it emerged that a ‘will’ he had left with one of his best friends stipulated that his friends throw a party ‘with lots of fun and laughter’.
He had never married or had children but poured his energy into his hobby: gatecrashing awards ceremonies and having his picture taken with A-list celebrities.
He was once arrested for gatecrashing the Oscars.
David Strang, 52, (pictured) is the creator behind popular novelty toys like giant bouncy balls and indoor boomerangs. His products have reached global shelves, appearing in everything from speciality stores like Hamleys to retail giants like Walmart and Amazon
Beyond the toy industry, Strang was a master of the uninvited entry. He successfully talked his way into elite ceremonies like the Oscars, Baftas, and Brits, amassing a collection of selfies with icons such as Halle Berry
After the Brits in 2020, he wrote on Instagram: ‘I came out of semi-retirement last night and managed to crash the red carpet at the Brits.
‘Met and chatted with some amazing artists… stopped taking selfies after I got in trouble. Too many photos and videos to post.
‘Amazing red carpet fun, incredible show and great to crash the after party too!!!’
David was described as ‘so proud of his achievements’, having built his company from scratch.
However in August 2024, Mr Strang became aware that his business was in trouble.
He had taken out personally guaranteed loans to expand, leaving him facing bankruptcy, a coroner heard this week.
His sister Vikki Seaton gave a statement to Inner West London Coroner’s Court, saying: ‘He had taken out loans in order to expand and could not afford to pay them back.
‘As he realised his business would not survive, his mental health got worse.’
Mr Strang’s GP said in a statement that he had no relevant history prior to September 2024, when he was seen complaining of high work stress and only two or three hours of sleep a night.
He was advised to try talking therapy and was prescribed Zopiclone for insomnia, but denied suicidal thoughts.
He didn’t improve however, and at a follow-up said he had just 45 minutes sleep over the last two nights.
On November 1, 2024, his GP said he had a three-month history of insomnia, had lost six or seven kilograms and had suicidal thoughts but denied he would act on them.
Three weeks later he was having daily suicidal ideation with specific plans and was described as ‘severely depressed’.
On November 29, Mr Strang spoke to experts at the Coral Mental Health Crisis Hub, part of the South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, and agreed to be seen by the hub the next day.
Dieneke Hubbeling, consultant psychiatrist, said: ‘He said he was in a lot of debt and his business was going bankrupt.’
Things worsened in December, but by the middle of that month he described himself as ‘super good’ and said he’d ‘turned a corner’.
Mr Strang’s risk rating was then downgraded to amber.
Again on December 29, he appeared to be in ‘good spirits’ and was re-zoned to green.
And on January 12, 2025, he told the hub that his ‘life was getting back on track’ and asked to be discharged.
The last contact with him was on January 14.
His collection of celebrity encounters grew to include snapshots with a diverse range of icons, from Dizzee Rascal and Anne-Marie to Hollywood’s Kate Hudson
Strang pictured with American actress, singer, and entrepreneur Kate Hudson
A photo from Strang’s Instagram shows him jumping outside 10 Downing Street
‘Was he telling us the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Of course we will never know,’ Ms Hubbeling said.
Maude Chinake, Clinical Service leader for South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said there had been ‘poor compliance and engagement’ from Mr Strang.
Debt management plan paperwork was prepared in agreement with him to show his creditors that he was experiencing mental health issues and could not repay his debts.
On the day of his death, April 21 last year, Mr Strang’s sister spent 20 minutes on a video call to him.
Other work ideas had been suggested.
‘We were all trying to help him find work so he could move on with his life. He didn’t think he had the experience. He sounded very flat and deflated,’ she said.
Kristina Butler, fatality investigator for the British Transport Police (BTP), said Mr Strang had accessed the tracks at Putney Station in south west London at 16.51pm.
The court heard that he died from multiple traumatic injuries. A toxicology screen was clear.
Ms Butler had used keys found on his body to access his flat where several items had been laid out on his bed including his passport, laptop, mobile phone, £6,500 in the pocket of his coat as well as handwritten notes and a typed one titled ‘amazing life’.
He had also searched for train times on his phone, she said.
Mr Strang’s family had questioned why they were not informed of his perilous state of mind.
Assistant coroner Sophie Mortimer recorded a conclusion of suicide and said that mental health teams should better liaise with next of kin for ‘collateral information’ that may assist without putting patient confidentiality at risk.
A photo posted to Strang’s Facebook showed him at Wimbledon in July 2023
Facing bankruptcy after taking out personally guaranteed expansion loans, Strang realised by August 2024 his business was in terminal trouble, a coroner’s court heard
GPs should also be involved if patients are showing low compliance with phone contact from mental health services, she added.
She said: ‘David Strang did not have any mental health problems until August 2024 when his business developed significant problems, which was a significant concern for him.
‘Due to the notes on his phone and the times that were searched for, I’m satisfied that Mr Strange did a deliberate act with the intention of taking his own life.
‘Sadly I can’t see that contact with the family to ask for collateral history would have changed the outcome. I offer my condolences.’