Toy firm boss who gatecrashed the Oscars killed himself after his business failed leaving him with huge debts

The flamboyant entrepreneur, who made toys used by millions of children around the world for 25 years, committed suicide when his business began to fail.

David Strang, 52, has made toys such as super-sized bouncy balls and indoor boomerangs sold in stores including Hamleys, Walmart, Sports Direct and Amazon.

Strang has also excelled as a thief, sneaking into events such as the Oscars, Baftas and the Brits, and over the years has taken selfies with the likes of Halle Berry, Kate Hudson, Tom Jones, Dizzee Rascal, Anne-Marie and Steven Tyler.

Strang, who founded the company Wicked Vision at the age of 26 and achieved great success for 20 years, even once attended a party at popstar Prince’s house.

However, when his expansion plans failed and he started to fall into loan debt, he threw himself in front of a train.

After his death, it was revealed that in a ‘will’ he left to one of his closest friends, he stipulated that his friends organize a party ‘full of fun and laughter’.

He never married or had children, but he devoted his energy to his hobby: crashing award shows and posing for photos with A-list celebrities.

He was once arrested for ruining the Oscars.

Beyond the toy industry, Strang was also a master at intrusion. By putting together a selfie collection featuring icons such as Halle Berry, she has successfully attended elite ceremonies such as the Oscars, BAFTAs and the British.

Following the British in 2020, he wrote on Instagram: ‘Last night I came out of semi-retirement and managed to hit the red carpet at the British.

‘I met and chatted with some great artists… I stopped taking selfies after I got into trouble. There are so many photos and videos to post.

‘Incredible red carpet fun, incredible show and great to attend the after party too!!!’

It was stated that David, who founded his company from scratch, was ‘proud of his achievements’.

But in August 2024, Mr. Strang realized his business was struggling.

This week a coroner heard he took out personally guaranteed loans to expand, leaving himself facing bankruptcy.

His sister Vikki Seaton told Inner West London Coroner’s Court: ‘He had taken out loans to grow up and couldn’t afford to pay them back.

‘His mental health deteriorated as he realized his business could not survive.’

Mr Strang’s doctor said in a statement that he had no relevant history of the issue before September 2024, when he appeared to be suffering from high work stress and sleeping only two or three hours a night.

He was advised to try talk therapy and was prescribed Zopiclone for insomnia, but denied suicidal thoughts.

However, there was no improvement and during the check-up, he said that he had only slept for 45 minutes in the last two nights.

On November 1, 2024, his doctor said he had been experiencing insomnia for three months, had lost six or seven kilos, and had suicidal thoughts, but he denied taking action against these thoughts.

Three weeks later, he began experiencing daily suicidal thoughts with specific plans and was described as ‘severely depressed’.

On November 29, Mr Strang spoke to specialists at the Coral Mental Health Crisis Center and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, part of South West London, and agreed to be seen at the center the following day.

Consultant psychiatrist Dieneke Hubbeling said: ‘He said he had a lot of debt and his business was going bankrupt.’

Things got worse in December, but by the middle of the month he described himself as ‘super well’ and said he had ‘turned the corner’.

Mr Strang’s risk rating was later downgraded to amber.

Again, on December 29, it was seen that morale was good and green was given territory again.

And on January 12, 2025, he told the center that his ‘life was back on track’ and asked to be discharged.

The last contact with him occurred on January 14.

Her collection of celebrity encounters has grown to include snaps featuring a wide variety 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 on Strang’s Instagram account shows him jumping outside 10 Downing Street

‘Was he telling us the whole truth or just the truth? Of course we will never know,” said Ms. Hubbeling.

Maude Chinake, South West London Clinical Service leader and from St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said Mr Strang showed ‘poor compliance and attendance’.

By agreement with him, debt management plan documents were prepared to show his creditors that he had mental health problems and could not pay his debts.

On the day he died on April 21 last year, Mr Strang’s sister had a 20-minute video call with him.

Other study ideas have been suggested.

‘We were all trying to help him find a job so he could move on with his life. He didn’t think he had experience. “His voice sounded very flat and dull,” he said.

British Transport Police (BTP) death investigator Kristina Butler said Mr Strang arrived on the tracks at Putney Station in south-west London at 4.51pm.

The court heard he died from multiple traumatic injuries. The toxicology screen was on.

Miss Butler had used keys found on her body to gain access to her flat, where various items were laid out on her bed, including her passport, laptop, mobile phone, £6,500 in her coat pocket, handwritten notes and a typed note titled ‘wonderful life’.

He also said he looked up train times on his phone.

Mr Strang’s family had questioned why they were not informed of his dangerous state of mind.

Deputy coroner Sophie Mortimer recorded a conclusion of suicide and said mental health teams needed to communicate better with next of kin for ‘additional information’ that might be helpful without risking the patient’s privacy.

A photo posted on Strang’s Facebook showed him at Wimbledon in July 2023

A coroner’s court heard Strang, who faced bankruptcy after taking out personally guaranteed expansion loans, realized in August 2024 that his business was in terminal trouble.

He added that GPs should also be involved if patients show low compliance with telephone contact from mental health services.

He said: ‘David Strang did not have any mental health issues until August 2024 when significant issues arose at his work and this was a significant concern for him.

‘I am satisfied, from the notes on his phone and the times searched, that Mr Strange committed a deliberate act with the intention of taking his own life.

‘Unfortunately, I don’t think contacting the family and asking for a collateral history will change the outcome. ‘I offer my condolences.’

For confidential support call Samaritans on 116 123, visit: samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support