Natasha Richardson: Died from bleeding in brain

Natasha Richardson: Died from bleeding in brain

Actress Natasha Richardson died from bleeding in her skull that was caused due to fall on a ski slope. On Thursday an autopsy has found it so.

Sources have highlighted on this news of Natasha Richardson. The medical examiner ruled her death an accident, and doctors also said that she might have survived if she would have received immediate treatment. However, almost four hours elapsed between her lethal fall and her admission to a hospital.

The Tony-winning actress suffered from an epidural hematoma, which causes bleeding between the skull and the covering of the brain. Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the New York City medical examiner's office has made this comment.

It is also reported that bleeding is often caused by a skull fracture, and it can quickly produce a blood clot that puts pressure on the brain. That pressure can force the brain downward, thereby pressing on the brain stem that use to control breathing and other major functions of human body.

Patients with such an injury often feel fine immediately after being hurt since the symptoms from the bleeding may take time to emerge.

"This is a very treatable condition if you're aware of what the problem is and the patient is quickly transferred to a hospital," "But there is very little time to correct this," added Dr. Keith Siller of New York University Langone Medical Center.

In order to prevent coma or death, doctors frequently cut off part of the skull to give the brain room to swell.

"Once you have more swelling, it causes more trauma which causes more swelling," "It's a vicious cycle because everything's inside a closed space." added Dr. Edward Aulisi, neurosurgery chief at Washington Hospital Center in the nation's capital.

It remained unclear Thursday exactly how she was injured. According to the officials at the resort Resort she fell on a beginner's trail and later reported not feeling well.

A CT scan can detect bleeding, bruising or the beginning of swelling in the brain. The challenge is for patients to know whether to seek one.

"If there's any question in your mind whatsoever, you get a head CT," "It's the best 20 seconds you ever spent in your life," added Aulisi.

Being a descendant of one of Britain's greatest acting dynasties, including her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, Richardson gained recognition for her work in such plays as "Cabaret" (for which she won a Tony) and "Anna Christie" and in the films "Patty Hearst" and "The Handmaid's Tale."

Mourning continued on Thursday with Broadway theaters dimming their lights in the honor of Natasha Richardson at 8 p.m., the traditional starting time for evening performances.

Praise also came from both tabloid celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and theater artists Sam Mendes, who directed the 1998 revival of "Cabaret."

Mendes, who undertook the responsibility of directing the Academy Award-winning film "American Beauty " said, “It defies belief that this gifted, brave, tenacious, wonderful woman is gone,"


Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, the trade organization for Broadway theaters and producers, called Richardson "one of our finest young actresses."

A representative for the Richardson family, Los Angeles-based Alan Nierob, remarked that he had no information about funeral arrangements.

Nierob also said that instead of flowers, the family requested everyone that donations could be made to the amfAR foundation for AIDS research. Richardson, whose father died of complications from the disease in the year 1991, was a longtime supporter of the charity and served on its board of trustees since the year 2006.

Richardson gave several memorable stage performances like Sally Bowles of "Cabaret," Blanche DuBois of "A Streetcar Named Desire”. She also portrayed the role of title character of Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie," a 1993 revival in which she co-starred with future husband Liam Neeson.

Her last feature film, "Wild Child," has been released worldwide. However it has not been released in the U.S. and Universal Pictures also added that one had not been scheduled.

Richardson’s death, who was not wearing a helmet, greatly heightened the debate over skiing safety. In Quebec, officials are considering making helmets mandatory on ski hills.

On Thursday Jean-Pascal Bernier, a spokesman for Quebec Sport and Leisure Minister Michelle Courchesne, added  that the minister met with emergency room doctors this week and will meet with ski hill operators very soon.

The emergency room doctors in the province first called for obligatory use of helmets almost 3 weeks ago.

All the questions also arose about the reason behind turning away first ambulance that was called to the ski resort.

Yves Coderre, the director of operations at the emergency services company that sent paramedics to the Mont Tremblant resort, expressed his opinion to media reporters. According to him he reviewed the dispatch records and the first 911 call came at 12:43 p.m. on Monday.

Coderre also added that the medics reached the hill just after seventeen minutes later. However the actress refused to take medical attention. That is way the ambulance staffers turned away and left after spotting a sled taking the still-conscious actress away to the resort's on-site clinic.

At 3 p.m., a second 911 call was made from luxury hotel room of Richardson as her condition deteriorated. An ambulance arrived almost nine minutes later.

Coderre said, "She was conscious and they could talk to her." "But she showed instability."

The medics tended her for nearly half-hour before transporting her to a hospital a 40-minute drive away.

On Thursday, the ski resort where Richardson had her fatal fall was subdued since all the employees refused to speak about the accident.

Still, the sunny slopes were crowded and the gentle hill where Natasha Richardson fell on was teeming with beginners including children.

Dozens of skiers and snowboarders took breaks from the runs for discussing Richardson's death and many said that they bought a helmet because of Richardson.