Actor Gene Hackman and Vrouw Betsy Arakawa in 1986 – Credit: Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The causes of death of the legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been unveiled, the most important medical researcher announced Friday, nine days after the couple was found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, at home.
Both the death of Hackman and Arakawa turned out to be the result of 'natural causes', albeit six days apart: Dr. Heather Jarrell said that Arakawa probably died at the Hantavirus Pulmonal Syndrome on 11 February, while Hackman died on 18 February (based on pacemaker information) of heart disease, with 'advanced Alzhe disease' also a contributing factor.
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Researchers also shared a timeline of what they believe that Arakawa's last day of life was on 11 February: she was seen on surveillance video that day did that shopping, such as going to a veterinarian, farmers market and CFS, and at some point had an e -mail conversation at one point that day. At 5:15 pm on 11 February, Arakawa de Clicker used to gain access to the private community where Haar and Hackman's house was. After that there was “no extra outgoing communication or activity”, so that researchers believe that she died on 11 February. (There is “no exact scientific method to determine the exact time of death,” said Dr. Jarrell.)
Hackman, researchers believe, died a week later on February 18, with an autopsy that unveiled the primary cause as 'extensive heart conditions', together with the advanced disease of Alzheimer's. The police have no other concrete details about Hackman's shared last week of life after the death of his wife, although the medical investigator said that Hackman had an empty stomach at the time of his death.
Hantavirus Long syndrome (HPS), according to the Mayo Clinic, “is a rare infectious disease that starts with flu -like symptoms and quickly progresses to more serious disease. It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems. “The disease is” usually caused by inhalation of Hantaviruses that have become in the air by rodent urine, droppings or saliva. ” It is unclear how Arakawa became infected, or that she was aware of her infection prior to her death.
On 26 February the actor, his wife of 34 years, and one of their dogs were found dead in their house in Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza; The dog who died in a crate after a veterinary procedure days earlier and researchers noticed that dogs cannot be carriers of HPS.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff office said in a first explanation that “false game is not suspected as a factor in those deaths”, but that “an active and ongoing investigation” was underway.
Shortly after the news over the dead had surfaced, Hackman's daughter Elizabeth spoke with TMZ and said that she and her family suspects that carbon monoxide poisoning; The coroner's office soon rejected that theory, since local gas companies found no evidence of a gas leak, and the autopsy reports confirmed that.
Hackman, whose Gravitas and Humanity made him a compelling on the screen for 40 years, played in classic films like The French connection” The Royal toebaums” The conversation, And Superman.
He withdrew from his acting career in 2004 with two Oscars (of the five nominations in total), three Golden Globes (as well as a Cecil B. Demille Award) and two BAFTA prices.
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