Actor Gene Hackman died of cardiovascular disease just a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died of a rare infectious disease in their home, a pathologist has said.
Two-time Oscar winner Hackman, 95, likely spent a week alone with his wife's body before he passed away, the sheriff of Santa Fe, New Mexico, told a news conference.
An autopsy showed that Ms. Arakawa, 65, also known as Betsy Hackman, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease transmitted to humans through infected feces or saliva of rodents.
Dr. Heather Jarrell, New Mexico's chief medical examiner, said at a news conference in Santa Fe that “there is reason to believe” Ms. Hackman died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on Feb. 11 at their Santa Fe home.
The expert said Hackman died on February 18 from “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the underlying cause of which was Alzheimer's disease.”
The couple were found dead along with one of their dogs in their Santa Fe home on February 26.
Asked whether the actor had been at home with his late wife's body for seven days before she died, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said, “Yeah, I'm assuming that's the case.”
Dr Jarrell said: “Hackman was showing signs of advanced Alzheimer's disease. He was in serious condition.”
“He had serious cardiovascular disease and I believe that is what ultimately led to his death.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
