NEW YORK -- Heath Ledger died of an accidental "abuse of prescription medications," the New York City medical examiner's office said Wednesday in releasing the results of toxicology tests performed on tissue taken from the actor's body two weeks ago.
Some type of overdose had been the expected cause of death since a masseuse found the 28-year-old Australian star's unconscious body in his Soho loft Jan. 22, with sleeping pills near his bed and other prescription drugs around the apartment.
The lab tests were conducted after an autopsy the next day proved inconclusive.
"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxica- tion by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine," the medi- cal examiner's spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove, said in a written statement. "We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications."
The list of generic names refer to drugs more commonly known as the painkillers OxyContin and Vicodin, the antianxiety medications Valium and Xanax, and the sleeping pill Restoril, while Unisom is an antihistamine commonly used as a sleeping aid.
New York police reported at the time of his death that Ledger was found to be unresponsive after he failed to answer knocks on his door and cellphone calls from the masseuse, Diana Wolozin. A spokesman said that, though the sleeping pills and other prescription drugs were found at the scene, there was no sign of foul play and the actor, who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of a repressed gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain," left no note.
Ledger had rented the luxury loft following his split last September from actress Michelle Williams, with whom he had lived in Brooklyn along with their infant daughter.
Though a call to 911 was delayed while the panicked masseuse tried to revive Ledger herself and used the actor's phone to call actress Mary-Kate Olsen in California, authorities have said they do not believe he could have been saved had an emergency crew immediately appeared.
Ledger's father, Kim, issued an emotional statement urging others to use prescription drugs with caution and appealing again for privacy for the actor's family.
"We remain humble as parents and a family, among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child," said the statement. "Few can understand the hollow, wrenching and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them. Today's results put an end to speculation, but our son's beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts.
