Unconfirmed reports: Natasha Richardson is brain dead
According to unconfirmed reports, Natasha Richardson has been declared brain dead after a ski accident Monday at a Canadian resort.
The New York Post reports that the actress' unnamed friends say she is on life support and is on her way to New York for friends and family to say goodbye.
But there's been no official confirmation of this terrible news.
A spokesperson at Sacre Coeur Hospital in Montreal, where Richardson, 45, was taken Monday night, would only say Richardson is no longer in Canada.
Richardson was feeling fine for nearly an hour Monday after falling on a beginner's run during a private ski lesson.
The British-born Richardson was not wearing a ski helmet during ski lesson on the Nansen, a beginners' run.
Richardson was at the bottom of the run, in what is known as the flats, during the midafternoon lesson when she fell and tumbled down the hill.
Media reports said her sons, Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12, were with her at the time of the accident.
She did not hit anyone or anything before coming to a stop and the ski instructor was by her side within seconds, the spokesperson for Sacre Coeur said. There was no sign of injury, no cut or bleeding.
Two ski patrollers helped Richardson but she was able to walk to her room at the resort's Quintessence Hotel, where she'd been staying since Sunday.
Britain's BBC reports that a member of Richardson family, who asked not to be named, said the family was "very distressed."
We pray that this report of her being brain dead is not true and that Natasha, a terrific actress, wonderful mother and loving wife, will be OK.
More Natasha Richardson posts:
Liam Neeson races to Natasha Richardson's side.
Photo: Natasha and her mom, Vanessa Redgrave in New York. Credit: WireImage
This is very irresponsible and distressing for papers to be reporting such things unless they have been deemed true!
This is such a sad news alert......Gods speed heal her and her families heartache....
The media has gotten out of hand. Only official stories should be released.
I'm very disappointed that the LA Times would use "unconfirmed reports" to headline an article just for publicity. This is something tabloid newspaper would do.
I agree that it is irresponsible for a supposedly reputable newspaper to print UNCONFIRMED information.
Don't print it until you have the FACTS!
It is disrespectful not only to Ms. Richardson but also cruel to have her loved ones read such reports.
Oh this is such sad news. I hope it's not true that she's brain dead. :(
Dear Appalled,
First off, you are reading an online ONLY celebrity blog, not a hard news story that will ever appear in the Los Angeles Times.
The blogosphere reports news differently than a daily printed newspaper. and yes, we still strive for accuracy but we also do report on news that is reported on other reputable blogs but is still unconfirmed, as we say in the headline and in the body of this item.
Hope this helps you understand the difference.
Elizabeth Snead
.
All of my prayers and positive thoughts go out to Ms. Richardson and her family in this very difficult time. My little seventh-month old niece just suffered a similar brain injury, and the first 72 hours after the accident were pure torture for all of us, as that's when the swelling was the worst (and the most visible).
I pray that God will heal Natasha and shine his mercy on her and her family. I pray that these news reports are just sensationalized, and I pray that she has the subconscious strength and will to get through this. I pray that she may live to see her sons and her husband again. I pray that her family finds the strength to cope with this tragedy.
All of my prayers and best wishes to this family.
Elizabeth,
This is what we call in journalism a teachable moment. Your response and explanation is everything that is wrong with journalism today. Just because it's on a celebrity blog does not make it ok. You are writing for an LA Times blog and should hold yourself, no matter the channel, to a higher standard. This is why journalism has lost its way and you and others don't get it.
Well said John S. I think if E Snead knew what she was talking about she would be ashamed of herself.