Actress Natasha Richardson was injured in a skiing accident

**caseysmom** · 03-19-2009, 12:54 PM

I was thinking the same thing Richard, its pretty scary. A few years ago there was a case in town at a basketball game where two guys got in a fist fight and one fell down and hit his head and died, just from a fall...its scary as hell.

**RICHARD** · 03-19-2009, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by caseysmom

I was thinking the same thing Richard, its pretty scary. A few years ago there was a case in town at a basketball game where two guys got in a fist fight and one fell down and hit his head and died, just from a fall...its scary as hell.

The same with chest trauma, do you remember a few years ago the kid that was killed when he was hit in the chest with a baseball?

Indeed, it's scary to know that a really freak accident can be so devastating!

**pomtzu** · 03-19-2009, 03:26 PM

It wouldn't take much of a blow to any part of the head to cause a brain whiplash and bleed. It's amazing how fragile the head and neck really are.

I sneezed and broke my neck, and came within ml of being quadriplegic - or dead. I was fortunate tho - I had 3 major surgeries within a span of 6 months, have titanium rods to hold my vertebrae stable from the base of my skull to between my shoulder blades, was in a neck brace for months, went thru many months of therapy to learn how to walk again, yet still have lasting adverse effects from the whole ordeal. But I'm alive, and it sure beats the alternative! I never would have imagined something so life threatening could happened from something so simple as a sneeze.

I absolutely cringe when I watch the abuse to the head and neck that football players take. Even with their head and neck protection, I'm amazed that there aren't more serious injuries - something I never gave a thought to before my mishap.

Head and neck injuries are definitely nothing to take lightly. What a shame that Natasha didn't seek medical help immediately, even tho she said she was okay. It just may have saved her life.

**Catty1** · 03-19-2009, 03:41 PM

Autopsy results

Full Article Here: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/09031...tasha_reaction

Richardson death ruled accident following 'blunt impact to head'

Thu Mar 19, 12:32 PM

SASKATCHEWAN (CBC) - British actress Natasha Richardson's death this week was caused by a blunt impact to the head, according to the New York City medical examiner's office.
ADVERTISEMENT

The agency conducted an autopsy on the actress, who died Wednesday after falling while at Quebec's Mont Tremblant ski resort two days earlier.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the office, said Thursday the death was ruled an accident, and the cause of death was an "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head."

An epidural hematoma is a blood clot under the skull caused by a blow to the brain.

The prominent actress sustained what initially appeared to be a benign fall during a private ski lesson on a beginner's slope at Quebec's Mont Tremblant ski resort on Monday afternoon. Though at first she appeared fine, about an hour later Richardson complained of feeling unwell. She was transported to a local hospital by ambulance first before later being transferred to Montreal, where her husband, actor Liam Neeson who had been on a film set in Toronto joined her.

On Tuesday, Richardson was airlifted to New York, where the couple lived with their sons, Micheal and Daniel.

**carole** · 03-19-2009, 04:51 PM

How terribly sad and shocking, RIP Natasha, may her family and children find some comfort at this awful time in their lives.

**RICHARD** · 03-19-2009, 07:37 PM

And epidural hematoma is a 'bruise' to the surface of the brain. It bleeds and cause the brain to get squeezed in the skull, a subdrual hematoma is an injury to the brain deeper inside.

If she had gone to see a doc they may have had a chance to save her life. Too bad she decided to refuse treatment.

**Vio&Juni** · 03-20-2009, 03:35 PM

We live in a small town that is a ski resort. I have been skiing without a helmet years ago and this year, only on the beginner slopes. We have been looking at getting helmets for me and Greg and now, we'll definitely do that. People here wear them basically to protect themselves against collisions with other skiers, I have never thought you need them when you just fall down. I was relying only on my ability to lift my head as I was falling (I only fell once). For poor Natasha Richardson once was enough.

I am so sorry for her and her family. It's so horrible that her two kids will have to grow up without her.