Carrie Fisher gave life to the iconic role of Princess Leia in the Star Wars movie franchise. Her death in December 2016 devastated her fans and Hollywood in general.
Last January official findings said that she suffered from cardiac arrest. However, the exact causes were unknown at that time.
Carrie Fisher's sudden death
Fishers died last December 27, 2016, at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Her death came as a shock to many, including her esteemed colleagues in the movie industry.
Actor Russell Crowe even said she's a "Funny, interesting, chaotic, soulful, Friend," on his Twitter account the moment he heard the devastating news.
A recent report released by the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner's office identified the cause of Fisher's death. According to the report, the 60-year-old died of Sleep Apnoea, a condition where a person stops breathing while in his or her sleep. But that's not the only factor discovered.
The controversial revelation stated that aside from sleep apnoea, Fisher's death could also be attributed to a certain heart disease and drug use. The manner of death remains "undetermined" though, the report says.
Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd reacts
Based on the coroner's report, Fisher took multiple drugs before she died. Her daughter Billie Lourd said, her mother "ultimately" died of drug addiction on top of her mental illness after the news about the coroner's report surfaced.
Experts say that consistent sleeping problems can cause an accumulation of fatty tissues in the arteries. This could have triggered a heart condition called the atherosclerotic heart disease, which eventually led to Fisher's untimely demise. It is a condition where the arteries harden and narrow.
Speaking to People Magazine, Lourd said "My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life.
She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases."
Fisher's battle with drug addiction
Fisher was open about her struggle with drug addiction. She eventually became a prominent voice in raising awareness about being bipolar.
After the results had been released, the coroner's office did not entertain other inquiries about Carrie Fisher's death. The spokesperson adamantly said that no other information would be released regarding the matter. This means all remaining questions about Fisher's death will no longer be answered.
