Family devastated as 'beloved' Natasha Richardson dies

Published on 19/03/2009 00:46

NATASHA Richardson died last night, the publicist for her husband, Liam Neeson, announced.

The 45-year-old star lost her fight for life at a hospital in New York after suffering a serious head injury in a fall at a Canadian ski resort.

Alan Nierob, Neeson's publicist, said: "Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha.

"They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

Earlier yesterday, Neeson, 56, their two sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12, and her mother, the Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, 72, and visited Richardson after she was flown from Canada to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York on Tuesday.

The accident happened while the actress was taking a supervised skiing lesson on a beginners' run at the luxury Mont Tremblant resort in Quebec on Monday. She showed no visible sign of injury after the fall, but was taken to the bottom of the slope by a ski patrol and told that she should see a doctor.

Richardson had initially laughed off the fall, but an hour later began complaining of headaches.

Resort staff who had escorted her off the slope and back to her hotel called an ambulance.

Richardson had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Neeson flew from a film set in Toronto to be with his wife as soon as he heard news of the accident.

The Toronto Star reported spotting a distraught Neeson crouched inside the back of an ambulance at Montreal's Sacre-Coeur hospital as Richardson, wrapped in blankets and with tubes covering her face, was carried inside for the trip to New York.

Although the official cause of Richardson's death was not given last night, reports had been circulating earlier in the day on internet sites that the actress was brain dead.

Richardson was flown from Canada to New York – where she and her family live, for further treatment – and her death was announced shortly before midnight.

Part of one of Britain's great theatrical dynasties, Richardson was the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson.

She was also the grand- daughter of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, and the sister of actress Joely Richardson, and niece of Lynn Redgrave.

In 1986, she won the London drama critics' most promising newcomer award for her performance as Nina in The Seagull alongside her mother.

She also won a Tony award for best actress in a musical for her performance as Sally Bowles in Sam Mendes' production of Cabaret on Broadway in 1998.