Student actor, 22, was found dead in his halls with fatal levels of date rape drug GHB in his body, inquest hears

A student actor who wrote about the struggles of being openly gay has been found dead with fatal levels of a date rape drug in his system, a coroner heard. 

Eiichi Nakajima's body was found in his student halls of residence in Berkshire just four days after his 22nd birthday. 

The performer had completed a degree in film and theatre at the University of Reading and was looking for experience as an assistant director.   

A pathologist told an opening inquest today that Mr Nakajima had fatal levels of the 'club drug' gamma hydroxybutyrate in his system. 

It is commonly put in alcoholic drinks to incapacitate revellers.

Eiichi Nakajima's body was found in his student halls of residence in Berkshire just four days after his 22nd birthday

Born and raised in Bolivia to Japanese parents, Mr Nakajima had acted in a film that won best comedy and entertainment film in at the Royal Television Society West of England Student Awards. 

He had also been the lighting director for a Malaysian play and the sound director for a Bolivian production.

Despite his triumphs, the young man struggled with being gay, keeping his secret as a child as it was 'wrong in the eyes of society,' he wrote on his blog.

'Living a gay life is not easy...When I was little, I would always keep my secret hidden, mostly because society has obligated me to do so... I would just be terrified about being gay because of all the rejection and hate society has over us.

A pathologist told an opening inquest today that Mr Nakajima had fatal levels of the 'club drug' gamma hydroxybutyrate in his system

'However, as I grew older, I just truly felt the urge that I someday needed to tell everyone... Even today, I do not regret being gay... Even if people think being gay is a sin and try to implant that ideal into my mind, I will, unfortunately for them, never think like that.

'I know my life will be a constant battle with myself, always trying to decide whether I should stand up to protect a gay person, keep my self-control when the haters come, risk myself to make my voice be heard.

'I truly know this world is full of pain and despair; I have experienced it myself. Therefore, this is why I was inspired to write a blog about my personal experiences to reach out to people, who are in need or just long for advice,' he wrote.

The performer had completed a degree in film and theatre at the University of Reading and was looking for experience as an assistant director

At the opening of an inquest into his death at Berkshire Coroner's Court today, senior coroner Heidi Connor heard that on June 5 this year the body of the graduate was found at his university lodgings address in Reading, Berkshire.

The coroner was told by pathologist Dr Rezan Guardi that the cause of Mr Nakajima's death was toxic levels of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate.

The full inquest is scheduled to take place on January 11 with assistant Berkshire coroner Ian Wade QC.