Archive for the 'Natasha Richardson' Category

Even after her death, Natasha Richardson is still helping others.

It's just been reported that after Richardson was taken off life support, her family requested that her organs be donated in order to help others.

A family friend says that is definitely something Natasha would have wanted. Adding, "She spent so much time fighting the stigma of AIDS; someone like that would naturally donate her organs. At least by donating her organs something good could come out of [the tragedy]."

As for her husband of 14 years, Liam Neeson, sources say he's doing ok.

Another family friend says "Liam is doing okay. It takes a while to absorb this. But he says the family needs to move forward. They will take it one step at a time. With good friends by their side, they will get through the tough days ahead."

[Image via WENN.]

With the sudden and unexpected death of Natasha Richardson, it only makes sense that those around her want to take some time off from work. Especially her mother, actress Vanessa Redgrave.

Veteran actress Redgrave was set to perform in a one-woman show, The Year of Magical Thinking, on April 27th at New York City's Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.

A rep for St. John's said that the show should be rescheduled by the end of the week, adding that everyone at the church was "deeply saddened" by Richardson's death.

The cathedral is even speaking with Richardson's family about incorporating some sort of special memorial tribute to Natasha in the show.

Either way, we hope her family is coping well with all the sudden changes. It won't be easy.

[Image via WENN.]

The timeline of events following Natasha Richardson's tragic accident have been pieced together, revealing "critical lapses in her care" that may have led to the actress' death.

Richardson fell not long after 12:43 pm on Monday, which was when a member of the Mont Tremblant ski patrol was dispatched to the site of Natasha's accident.

An ambulance arrived at 1:00 pm to the bottom of the ski slope and waited for Richardson to meet paramedics for treatment via toboggan.

Richardson reportedly "whisk[ed] by on the sled without stopping," and the ski patrol informed the paramedics that Natasha had refused treatment and they were free to go.

Richardson made a stop at the Mont Tremblant clinic with her ski instructor, which may or may not have been staffed by a physician, and headed back to her suite at a nearby hotel.

Another ambulance was dispatched to the hotel at 3:00 pm after Richardson's ski instructor called the hotel manager.

"The instructor called the general manager and said Richardson had a headache and she was not feeling well. The [general manager] went to see her said she was going to call an ambulance. Richardson said she didn't need an ambulance or a doctor - and the GM insisted that an ambulance come and get her," revealed Yves Coderre, director of the ambulance company that services Mont Tremblant.

When paramedics arrived to Richardson's room, they saw "something that wasn't right… [The paramedic] saw some signs indicating her condition was destabilizing. He called ahead to the hospital to let them know of her condition and he put the siren on," said Coderre.

Richardson left Mont Tremblant for Centre Hospitalier Laurentain in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts at 3:47 pm where the actress' condition was stabilized.

After being stabilized, Natasha was rushed to the trauma center of the Sacre-Coeur hospital in Montreal. Richardson did not arrive to the trauma center until 7:00 pm due to the 52 mile trek between the two hospitals.

The Sacre-Coeur hospital was unable to provide helicopter transportation to the late actress because Montreal is unequipped with helicopters for medical transport.

"Our system isn't set up for traumas and doesn't match what's available in other Canadian cities, let alone in the States," said Tarek Razek, the director of trauma services for the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.

How heartbreaking.

We only hope Natasha's untimely death will set the wheels in motion for a reevaluation of the trauma system in Montreal.

[Image via WENN.]

Friends and family of Natasha Richardson gathered in New York at the American Irish Historical Society on Friday night to pay their respects to the late actress.

Richardson's immediate family was present at the wake, with husband Liam Neeson, sons Micheal and Daniel, mother Vanessa Redgrave and sister Joely Richardson in attendance.

The family was supported by friends Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, Howard Stern, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker who also gathered to say their final goodbyes to the talented actress and beloved friend.

Richardson will be buried in Millbrook, N.Y. on Sunday in a private funeral service.

So sad.

[Image via WENN.]

Wow. That was quick!

Autopsies can sometimes take months! But, the official cause of death for Natasha Richardson has finally been determined.

As many people suspected, it's been revealed that Liam Neeson's wife died from a blunt impact to her head.

According to a spokesperson for the New York City medical examiner's office, her death was ruled an accident after the autopsy was performed.

The impact caused internal brain bleeding, which ultimately killed her.

As of right now, it's still unknown what she hit her head on.

All so sad.

[Image via WENN.]

As of this morning, Thursday, an autopsy on Natasha Richardson is in progress to determine the exact cause of the actress' accidental death.

Results will should available later today, Thursday, according to the coroner.

Broadway theaters will dim their lights tonight in honor of Richardson. Theater marquees will be dimmed for one minute at 8 p.m. EDT, the traditional starting time for evening performances of Broadway shows.

[Image via WENN.]

Reports have revealed that an ambulance was immediately called to the scene of Natasha Richardson's fatal fall in Canada on Monday, but EMT workers were turned away before they ever reached Richardson.

Assuming the actress was unharmed after her tumble, paramedics were told their services were no longer needed.

Even though Natasha was "laughing and joking" after the accident, head trauma can take a turn for the worse hours or even days after the impact.

"When you have a head trauma you can bleed," said Yves Coderre, director of the ambulance company that services Mont Tremblant. "People don't realize it can be very serious. We warn them they can die and sometimes they start to laugh. The don't take it seriously."

As for Richardson, he says his ambulance crew "never saw the patient,” said Mr. Coderre, whose company, Ambulances Radisson, serves Mont Tremblant. “So they turned around.”

In light of the tragedy at hand, there is a lesson to be learned from the accident - head trauma should always be checked out by a professional, no matter how serious you think the injury may be.

[Image via WENN.]

After the unfortunate skiing accident that took Natasha Richardson's life, friends, costars and all of Hollywood is speaking out in remembrance of the actress.

Even Lindsay Lohan took some time away from arguing with saMAN Ronson to offer a few words.

Martha Stewart said, "Just heard the tragic news about poor Natasha Richardson. Her family must be devastated. My sincerest condolences to all."

Demi Moore also spoke out, adding, "I am sending out prayers for Natasha Richardson and her family. A real reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can be gone. …"

Jane Fonda took to her official blog and wrote:

"I first met her on the set of 'Julia.' She was a little girl but already beautiful and graceful. It didn't surprise me that she became such a talented actor. I wanted to go to the Lenox Hill Hospital where I was told she had been taken to see if there was anything I could do for Vanessa [Redgrave, Natasha's mother], any comfort I could bring but today was a two-show day and as the curtain went up tonight I heard the tragic news. It is hard to even imagine what it must be like for her family. My heart is heavy."

And even shit-talker Joan Rivers offered a few words of condolences while she appeared on Larry King Live last night. She said:

"We spent one amazing day on a boat with my whole family and she and Liam and the boys. They were such a family." Adding that Natasha and her hubby Liam Neeson were "Totally happy, totally devoted to each other. I mean just shouldn't have happened. And they made such a good-looking couple too. He doted on what she said, she doted on — it was just perfect."

What a sad day for Richardson's family, friends, and fans. Our thoughts go out to them.

[Image via WENN.]