In Case You Missed It: Heath Leger died of accidental overdose
The medical examiner has ruled that Heath Ledger’s death is an “accident,” resulting from the “abuse of prescription medications.”
CNN
UPDATE: The NYC medical examiner has finished the toxicology report following the death of Heath Ledger, and has just ruled that the actor’s death was caused by “acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine.”
The NYPD found five medications in Ledger’s apartment after his death, including anti-anxiety medications alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and Lorazepam (Ativan). The sleeping medication zopiclone (Lunesta) and the sedative temazepam (Restoril) — which is used by people with “debilitating insomnia” — were also found. Doxylamine is an antihistamine used in the short-term treatment of insomnia.
UPDATE: Heath Ledger’s father, Kim, has released the below statement following the news of the late actor’s cause of death:
We remain humble as parents and a family, among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child. Few can understand the hollow, wrenching, and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them. Today’s results put an end to speculation, but our son’s beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts.
While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath’s accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.
Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.
We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle) as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful.
At this moment we respectfully request the worldwide media allow us time to grieve privately, without the intrusions associated with press and photography.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:30 am
That is so sad…
February 6th, 2008 at 9:49 am
IS abuse of rx drugs really accidental? I understand he didn’t take a ton of pills he did have vicodin, valium, xanax and 2 sedatives in his system. Wouldn’t most adults know that is a little excessive and very dangerous?
He may not have meant to OD but it was like playing in rush hour traffic with the pill combo he was taking.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I am just going to say, R.I.P, Heath Ledger.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Ugh. Im so sad about Heath.
-Erin Z-
Yes.. it can be accidental. Mixing prescription medications can have adverse reactions. Deadly at times.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I still can’t wrap my mind around this unbelievably tragic death.
R.I.P., gorgeous…
February 7th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Erin - he could have taken them over the span of a couple days. He was sick at the time, so he already had a diminished lung capacity and most of those drugs have some CNS depressant effects, so a normal healthy person may have survived but he, in his sick state, did not. Drugs build up in the system so he may have taken them one day and the next day thought they weren’t working and took more, who knows, but I think they don’t believe he had any idea that these drugs could be lethal.