Star goes into cardiac arrest, is found unresponsive in her own home

Dec 21, 2009 07:56 GMT  ·  By

Actress Brittany Murphy died on Sunday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Hollywood after paramedics were summoned to her house in the Hollywood Hills, where her mother had found her unresponsive in the shower. As of now, little is known of her condition prior to her death, but the Coroner’s Office says she went into cardiac arrest and that this looks to be death from natural causes, TMZ informs.

The star supposedly passed out in the bathroom, where she was found by her mother who called 911. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, although eyewitnesses tell the media that it was clear she had already expired when ambulance arrived. Brittany Murphy suffered from diabetes type 2, her mother told medics, and was taking many prescription pills for what was referred to as “flu-like symptoms.”

As of now, the coroner has said that there isn’t any indication of foul play and that death seems to have occurred from natural causes. An autopsy is pending, as well as a toxicology report, which might take up to 6 weeks. The actress’ family has issued a separate statement to confirm the sad news: Brittany Murphy was only 32 years old and had just the other week spoken to the media about her plans for the future, which included becoming a mother.

“In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy,” a rep for Brittany’s family initially said. “The sudden loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy. She was our daughter, our wife, our love and a shining star. We ask you to respect our privacy at this time,” the family also stated, in a separate press release.

Brittany Murphy broke into the spotlight with “Clueless” and then moved on for commercial and critical acclaim with parts in “8 Mile,” “Girl, Interrupted,” “Don’t Say a Word” and “Sin City.” She is survived by a husband, British writer Simon Monjack.