M.E. Calls Ledger Death "Accident"

46. 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.

Posted at 10:50AM on Feb 6th 2008 by Statement from Kim Ledger on behalf of the Ledger family

47. Prescription meds are not a joke. It just shows that this is even more sad. Matilda will be without her father for the rest of her life because of this! This was SOOOOOOO preventable. If you take a pill to sleep and it doesn't work, people are tempted to take more or try something else. That something else could be fatal. Just because they are prescription it doesn't make them safe. People especially those who life a "star" life feel that they are invincible. With Anna Nicole we were not surprised because she was sort of a mess all the time. Heath was a surprise. Maybe Hollywood will wake up a bit about this!!
Rest in Peace Heath.

Posted at 10:45AM on Feb 6th 2008 by just sayin

48. REST IN PEACE, MY FRIEND...............I KNEW YOU............AND I KNEW YOU DIDN'T DO IT ON PURPOSE..................
YOU'LL LIVE IN MY HEART FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



LOVE YOU MADLY,

JH

Posted at 11:09AM on Feb 6th 2008 by me in nyc

49. Let's call a spade a spade, it's a DRUG OVERDOSE. There are only 3 legal causes of death: Natural causes, Accidental and Homicide. Don't let the term "accidental" confuse you, Heath died because he took too many drugs. There will of course be an investigation of his Doctors and they will be sued for malpractice and the settlement will be about 2 million dollars. There's money to be made when people die.

Posted at 10:46AM on Feb 6th 2008 by Biker 1957

50. ACCIDENT MY A$$ !!!!!!

Posted at 10:46AM on Feb 6th 2008 by AL GOREs VAGINA

51. Drugs are Drugs People legal or not and alcohol is the worst one

Posted at 10:46AM on Feb 6th 2008 by Jimbo

52. I meant that response for #23, not #28. Sorry!

Posted at 10:46AM on Feb 6th 2008 by Kate

53. You know I was a prescription drug addict. 40 perks a day and you don't think about dying or anything else when you pop one after another. So everyone can stop with the "stupid", "idiot" etc. remarks unless you've been there.
Clean and sober 3-1/2 yrs now!

God Speed Heath!!

Posted at 10:58AM on Feb 6th 2008 by royal b***h

54. Come on! Who takes all those together without being an abuser! Who takes that many with those combinations? He had a death wish, plain and simple!

Posted at 11:08AM on Feb 6th 2008 by Yeah right!

55. The last interview I saw with him so disturbed I saw the demons in his soul. Call it pills or suicide. I have seen it before. I hope his family can find some peace. Bless Matilda.

Posted at 10:48AM on Feb 6th 2008 by my thoughts

56. Preventable - sad and such a waste. Sad for his family - but at least the speculation is done. Move on people and let his family do the same.

Posted at 10:55AM on Feb 6th 2008 by Leave Him Alone Already

57. We all know what PR is, right? These people have publicists who get paid lots and lots of money to tell people that "prescription meds" were involved, and that it was an "accident"...but are we surprised that they forgot to mention the ridiculous amounts of "illegal" narcotics that were probably in his system?! I want the real story - and same goes for Brit.

Posted at 11:12AM on Feb 6th 2008 by n.o

58. Selfish prick! boohoo hoo I'm a miserable celebrity! He should of thought of his beautiful little girl before he took those pills.
When you become a parent, you have to put your child first, no matter how depressed you are.

Posted at 10:57AM on Feb 6th 2008 by kashmir

59. what about the coke........was that listed...how in the hell did he ever out out of bed? RIP Heath

Posted at 10:48AM on Feb 6th 2008 by askmeaboutperfection

60. How do they know that it was a "accidental" overdose? Just because they didn't find a note. Or because he Appeared to be happy? Seriously, any grown person with common sense knows not to mix narcotics and sleeping pills. Either he wanted be high out of his mind to escape whatever he was going through, or the ultimate escape. I just don't believe that he was just trying to plainly, Sleep. -Sorry

Posted at 10:49AM on Feb 6th 2008 by Brie