Heath's Family Responds To His Official Cause Of Death
Filed under: Australiastic > Heath Ledger
Statement from Kim Ledger on behalf of the Ledger family issued following the release of the Medical Examiner's findings:
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.
[Image via WENN.]
first……
So sad…
sad
Second!
Rest in Peace.. One of the best actors of our time.
HOW THE HELL CAN YOU CALL IT ACCIDENTAL???? ANYONE THAT CAN READ KNOWS YOU DONT COMBINE PILLS LIKE THAT, THATS WHAT ALL THOSE ORANGE/YELLOW LABELS ARE ALL OVER YOUR PILL BOTTLES…SOUNDS LIKE MORE HOLLYWOOD COVER UPS…THESE DOCTORS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE THEY KILL OFF ALL THESE YOUNG HOLLWOOD ACTORS THAT CAN'T HANDLE LIFE…
That's what Anna Nicole and other druggies died of. Come on!
God Bless all of them. What a beautiful statement and may Heath rest in peace.
so sad
We will miss you Heath!!!
So unfortunate. But a beautiful way to say good-bye.
so sad
Does it really matter that you're first on a story like this…
This is so sad.
Wow what classy people So sad
RIP Heath…this is a true tragedy
So sad. He was so talented.
God Bless their family!! It is so sad!
I am crying now as I read this beautiful statement. Heath's family esp Matilda and Michelle are in my prayers.
Aileen
let da family grieve in peace!!!
That is so touching. Brought tears to my eyes. RIP Heath, now all speculations can be laid to rest.
So sad. Very classy people though. Well put….
So sad for his family…
God, he is beautiful. I just love this man, his talent, ambition, and the way he cherished his daughter. I will never forget the comment he made about being so in love with the two ladies in his life. ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE…..what a f*ckin shame. HE WENT TO SLEEP, NOT KNOWING HE WOULD NEVER EVER AGAIN AWAKE. NEVER AGAIN SEE HIS DAUGHTER, NEVER AGAIN SEE HIS FAMILY. AND NEVER AGAIN, BREATHE.
God, he is beautiful. I just love this man, his talent, ambition, and the way he cherished his daughter. I will never forget the comment he made about being so in love with the two ladies in his life. ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE…..what a f*ckin shame. HE WENT TO SLEEP, NOT KNOWING HE WOULD NEVER EVER AGAIN AWAKE. NEVER AGAIN SEE HIS DAUGHTER, NEVER AGAIN SEE HIS FAMILY. AND NEVER AGAIN, BREATHE.
God, he is beautiful. I just love this man, his talent, ambition, and the way he cherished his daughter. I will never forget the comment he made about being so in love with the two ladies in his life. ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE…..what a f*ckin shame. HE WENT TO SLEEP, NOT KNOWING HE WOULD NEVER EVER AGAIN AWAKE. NEVER AGAIN SEE HIS DAUGHTER, NEVER AGAIN SEE HIS FAMILY. AND NEVER AGAIN, BREATHE.
A sensible a family
I guess his body had NO CHOICE BUT TO DIE!!
******I TOTALLY AGREE**********
All the photogs who want the money shot….let them grieve the death of their son/family in peace, give them the privacy they want and deserve.
this is a hard moment for them and for all of Heath's fans worldwide.
May him rest in peace
I almost cried while reading this. Very thoughtful and touching. My heart goes out to Heath's family and loved ones.
1
Poor Heath =(
R.I.P.
the parents just need to except he had a drug problem…no doctor in their right mind would prescribe pain killers with anxiety and anti-depressants. Im sure Heath didnt read the label either…
very sad, but an addiction none the less.
gta love drugs
rest in peace, we will never forget you.
second?
Its so tragic..my heart goes out to his entire family. He should not have been playing around with the Olson-trolls
FUCKING STOP WITH THE FIRSTS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mmmmmmmmmmkay —– if you dont have anything good or wise to say, shut up! and fuck off!
may God protect you and your loved ones always, so you dont have to go through what Heath's family has suffered.
What a Beautiful statement! They Loved & Adored their son. It is such a waste that those drugs were given to him by a professional who didnt realize the dangers of mixing them together. Very sad end to a life cut way too short.
I think of him often….r.i.p.
I am so glad to hear it was not illegal street drugs, but i really never thought it was!
Hopefully the media respects his families wishes!!
so sad still
aww it's very sad. At least they have some resolution now.
His death is tragic but his family is being disingenuous when they say "no medications were taken in excess". HELLO! He died of an overdose. Last time I checked, an overdose was an excess of drugs. What's really fucked up is that doctors will prescribe all these drugs to people. Who needs that many prescriptions????
Let the have peace.
doesn't sound like an accident to me…
His Family, sadly, will not accept the fact he was into drugs, accident or not. That is sad, moreso for them than all of us who know the drug evils and its harm to all, especially loved ones. Its now time to put this story to bed and let Heath rest in peace.
Well said, Mr. Ledger.
It's apparent Heath was well loved by his family and may you grieve in peace.
It seems he was desperate for sleep after his transatlantic flight.
It's sad that Heath's dad is in such denial. The results show that the use and abuse of precription meds killed Heath. The report doesn't show that the doses were minimal and that Heath was taking them properly.
This is so very sad. People are now saying he was taking these pills in large amounts but if what the family says is true he wasn't it was just the combination of the drugs that did it. I wish people would just stop trying to make him out to be this really bad person when he wasn't. He was human and we all make mistakes. Just let the guy rest in peace and let his family mourn without all these bad things being said.
wow, i can't believe, how even on a sad article like this, people are STILL worried about being first or second. pathetically immature.
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.
Who takes so many drugs and doesn't expect a deadly reaction? Why was he self medicating ? Just because the drugs were "perscription" doesn't mean he wasn't addicted. Risky behavior ends in death.
It so unbelievable sad! God Bless his family and child. RIP Heath.
top 50! Leave Heath's family ALONE!!!!! Let them grieve!! R.I.P. Heath….you will be missed!!
At least his daughter wont have to grow up knowing her father killed himself, accidental over dose was the best case scenario (obviously, other than him not dying)
And cut the first shit and have a little more respect people.
What an amazing and heartfelt message from Heath's family. He was lucky to have such an incredibly warm and loving family while he was alive. And now, they are lucky to have each other to lean on.
What a beautiful statement from Heath's family. I hope they get to grieve in peace, but I doubt it.
This is very sad. Heath was such an amazing actor and I am keeping his family in my prayers. Atleast Michelle and his daughter know that he did love them very much. Heath, Rest In Peace. You will be missed deeply.
I hope that the worldwide media leaves Heath's family alone so they can have time to grieve the loss of their son. RIP
His father said all the right things. It seems that Heath had a very loving family. What a beautiful statement to send out. May Heath rest in peace and be forever Matilda and Michelle's angel. R.I.P.
People need to stop taking so many different combo's of pills. It almost seems better to take more of just one than to combine. Pill cocktails are deadly!
whatever - he's a shitty actor and deserved to die
Re: Face the FACTS!!! – Really? have any experience with these drugs? I do. I have a chronic…disabling condition.Many times these drugs are prescribed together, but under very close supervision and monitoring. Its a recipe for disaster if not taken properly, but very wrong to say NEVER prescribed toegther…without this cocktail myself, and many others who need it..would not be here.
Heath,
You have a wonderful family who loves and misses you very much. Matilda will grow up to become a beautiful woman. You should be very proud. We all miss you. Rest in peace and God bless.
What a beautiful statement. Hopefully now the press will let him rest in peace with no more speculation.
[[[[[[[[[ once a = effen= gan the doctorz killed him ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzthoze doctorz zhould be in prizon zzzzzzzzzzzz
[[[[[how many people have 2 die b/4 zomething iz done?]]]]]]]]]
zzzzzz{{{{{{mizz my {heath}…luv my perez…luv my hill & bill♥♥
this is why the Doctors, drug makers need to be sued and stopped! How many more people are these people going to kill??
people wake up…. its all about another greedy CEO pushing there meds to us.
Sorry folks, doing all those drugs is what a druggie does. It's a shame this new generation has their head in the sand big time about his affliction.
He was talented, as were John Belushi and River Phoenix, who all died of drugs.
how sad
Re: justaremark – what? is your doctor trying to kill you? what disease could ever require this combo?
Even just ONE medication can cause numerous side effects…there is never a guarantee that it won't interact with others or not. Even Vitamin D taken in excess can cause death…as it could raises calcium levels to a dangerous high level. People never think about that…….Prescription meds and antidepressant are even worse…..
Such a shame….really, gotta be careful with any medication. RIP Heath–finally!
If are here to write "first" you are a waste of space. Grow up. Who cares if you were here first? It just shows you have nothing better to do than sit your ass at a computer and click 'refresh' on this site all day long. Wow. That's complicated. Get a hobby.
I think heath family has shown great tact during this very very difficult time. I hope the media respects their request to be left alone. My heart goes out to his family, Michelle and Matilda.
check it out on singleasianmale.com
Re: nikita – Fuck you asshole!!!
I only meant his body had no other choice but to die because of all of the different drugs in him!!!!
I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HEATH CHOOSING TO DIE….SO YOU FUCK OFF!!!
My heart goes out to Heath's family, friends and his latest girlfriend, Gemma Ward, who also happens to be from Perth. I hope people don't forget about Gemma, those very happy two weeks that Heath spent in Perth were with her and his family, so she played a part to this happiness. She's now in Perth and will attend his funeral. Michelle and Matilda are also here already. I feel for all of them.
Those poor people. The grief must be overwhelming. My heart is with them.
I hate to break it to them but their son was an addict! Black and White, not grey about it here.
I was one of the ones that assumed it was somethign else until I saw the combination.
There was absolutely NO REASON for him to be taking oxy contins. He did not have cancer, nor was being treated for chronic pain.
It is the hillbilly heroin choice of addicts.
I suspect that the twin Olsen girl then is also an oxy contin addict.
Such a shame………………………….he simply overdosed.
Re: justaremark –
Good comment. I completely agree. I suffer from chronic illnesses and without pain medication, I would be in constant agony. These medications CAN be used in a safe and monitored environment. It was an accident. Sadly things like this happen with many many many medications… not JUST pain killers.
Face the facts - u r wrong. I am in the UK and I have been prescribed at one time in my life, anti depressants, pain killers, anxiety drugs AND SLEEPING PILLS. So yes, these drugs are prescribed at the same time. I didnt take all these drugs because I didnt want to, although they were presceribed to me. By the way, I went to the doctor because I COULDNT SLEEP.
Heath's family, as well as Michelle, have issued such beautiful statements in his memory. This is such a sad passing because it is clear Heath was so loved. I really hope the paparazzi and the rest of the media can let them grieve in peace.
Re: Face the FACTS!!! – You obviously have no clue what you are talking about. Yes, you can take those two medication combined as long as they are given by the same dr. or the other dr knows of all of the drugs you are taking. People take anti anxiety and anti dep. together every day to cope. They can be quite helpful if taken correctly.
Re: ? – Frankly it's none of your damn business. Go back to school… you don't know what you are talking about. You obviously have NEVER experienced chronic pain, stop running your mouth off and get a hobby.
how beautiful. what a loving family.
Wow, what class his family has shown, truly a beautiful statement!
#44 Charles–
Don't criticize what you don't know. I've been hooked on prescription
drugs before, and it isn't pretty. I've taken a few that Heath had in his system
and it's very VERY VERY easy to wake up and think, "did I take my pill?" A normal
person would probably err on the side of caution and NOT take another, but someone
who takes a lot of pills (addict or not) would probably just pop another.
'Low dosages' don't mean squat when you have six or eight of them in your system!
If three of them are for sleep and three are for pain, something's going to shut down.
RIP Heath. You're deeply missed.
Re: Charles Doerr – #44 No medication was taken in excess! It was the combination of the drugs that killed him. He could have taken the right amount of each but the combination was what did it. I personally know someone that did that. People assume that if the doctors prescribe them then they are ok to take. But it seems that there was more than one doctor perscribing so the type of medication being taken. well seems no one knew he was combining them. He may have had a drug problem but report says not one of the meds was taken in excess. RIP you will be missed
So mary kate didn't hide the drugs
is it me or are they out to get Olsens now - have they run out of stories on the other girls apparently they have dirty hair and smelly breath and hate other according to Star Mag
As a pharmacist, yes no doctor in their right mind would prescribe these medicines together. The problem is when a patient goes to different doctors and different pharmacists. When my patients only come to me I am more aware of what medicines they take and when different doctors presecribe different meds I am more aware of the dangers. The biggest mistake people make is going to different pharmacies with different prescriptions. I am sorry people but in my line of work it happens more then you think. We can not stop accidental prescription overdoses if the patient is completely honest and tells us everything they are taking. Remember to tell us your pharmacist all your taking even your herbals and vitamins. This is our job to make sure you are taking the right medicines and to make sure you are not combining things that can be fatal. Yes even herbal remedies can interfere with your prescription meds. I had a patient that had a heartattack when she decided to start using dieter's tea. It interfered with her heart medication and she had a heart attack.
Legal DRUGS will kill you!
Heath's family has a lot of class. I hope they get the privacy they deserve. I always believed it was an accidental OD of prescription drugs. I NEVER ONCE BELIEVED HEATH WAS A DRUG ADDICT DOING COCAINE ND HEROIN NEVER!
The scarey thing about the report is that they say "cumulative" as in over time. So it sounds like Heath didn't pop all these pills at once, but over time. That means people need to be very careful about the combinations of pills they take.
This wasn't the right way to leave this world. Even, it was an accident, it's still too sad.
The message of Heath's family was sad but it gives responds..
We miss you Heath and we are sorry.
Rest in peace Heath
Re: cathy – you all have some fucked up doctors, ya'll…related to sam lutfi by any chance? shit.
Re: cathy – you all have some fucked up doctors, ya'll…they related to sam lutfi by any chance? shit.
That is the most touching, loving, eloquent, and dignified statement I have read in a long, long time. It says enough—no more needed, no less. It is a private family matter. It is Classy, refreshingly Classy, and proof in times like these that Class survives alive and well. The writer of this statement should teach a course—and all the Hiltons, Lohans, and Spears should be required to take this course. And many, many writers of angry nonsense on this site would do well to take the course, too.
#75– please stop speaking on topics you have no experience in.
Yes, he was probably addicted. Yes, he needed help. "He… was being treated for chronic pain." How the hell do you know? You have access to his medical records and his doctor?
If so, that's a huge HIPAA violation. Just please shut up.
why are the people who leave comments so stupid?
This is so STUPID!!! why on earth would any doctor in thier right mind prescribe a patient to take not one, not two, not even three, but 6 addictive medications for pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Sounds like Heath was just another Hollywood junkie abusing what he could get from his shady physician.
It's really sad how deluded his fans are about how he died, and how they deliberately killed that ET piece that would have shown him taking drugs to the whole country. Good think Elvis's fan's didn't have that denial need, or they would have never known what happened to him.
i'm a pharmacist and i see this combination of medications all the time. yes, these medications have medical use but they also have a high potential for dependence and abuse. more often than not, i see these medications being taken not out of medical necessity, but for recreation. i have worked in several states and this is a big problem everywhere. it's not isolated to young hollywood.
AM NOT BUYING IT…THEY KNOW THEY PAY TO KEEP THINGS HUSH HUSH..I BELIEVE HE DID DIED OF MEDICATION AND COCAINE AND CRAK AND HEROIN COMBINED…THEY WONT SAY THAT
poor BRAD RENFRO. WHAT HAPPENED? HE WAS THE LATEST CELEBRITY "TRAGEDY". THEN HEATH PASSES AND HE IS FORGOTTEN. dont worry BRAD YOUr STILL IN THE HEARTS OF many. being a dope fiend aint easy.
Why do doctors overprescribe for celebrities? BECAUSE THEY ASK FOR IT, and the docs are star struck, and if they don't provide it, some other quack will.