Lisa Marie Presley's cause of death revealed

Virgin Radio

14 Jul 2023, 16:07

Medical examiners have at long last revealed what actually happened to bring Lisa Marie Presley's life to an unjustly early end.

Earlier this year, heartbreaking news struck the music world as Lisa Marie Presley, the cherished daughter of rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley, passed away at the age of 54.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office has now revealed the cause of her untimely death: a bowel obstruction.

Presley, who made her mark as a talented singer in her own right, was rushed to a hospital in California on 12th January but sadly succumbed to the health complications.

Just two days prior, she had made her last public appearance at the Golden Globe Awards, leaving her fans and loved ones in shock.

Upon receiving the distress call, emergency responders swiftly arrived at her residence in Calabasas, where they found her in cardiac arrest. Despite their efforts, her life could not be saved.

The recent findings from the medical examiner's office have concluded that her cause of death was natural and attributed the cardiac arrest to a "small bowel obstruction."

This condition occurs when the small intestine becomes blocked, often due to factors such as colon cancer, medication, or adhesions formed as a result of surgeries.

In Presley's case, the adhesions were a consequence of the weight-loss surgery she had undergone years earlier, a known long-term complication of such procedures.

Small bowel obstructions are relatively rare, and individuals experiencing them often endure significant pain that would typically warrant hospital admission, according to Dr. Angelique Campen, an emergency room physician at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.

In a tragic twist of fate, Presley was laid to rest beside her son Benjamin Keough, who tragically took his own life in 2020, adding to the immense grief suffered by the Presley family.

Following her passing, a legal dispute emerged surrounding the validity of Presley's will.

Her mother, Priscilla Presley, challenged its authenticity, claiming she was unaware of a 2016 amendment that removed her as the trustee overseeing Lisa Marie's estate.

The amendment instead named Benjamin Keough and Riley, Lisa Marie's daughter from her first marriage, as co-trustees. The details of the settlement reached in May have remained undisclosed to the public.

Lisa Marie Presley followed in her legendary father's footsteps, forging her own path and releasing three albums during her career.

Her life was also marked by four high-profile marriages, including unions with pop star Michael Jackson, actor Nicolas Cage, and musician Michael Lockwood.

The music industry continues to mourn the loss of an extraordinary talent and an indelible presence.

After waking up to the news of his nomination Austin Butler, who portrayed Lisa Marie's father in Baz Lurhmann's biopic Elvis, appeared on US breakfast show Today with Hoda & Jenna to chat about his Oscars recognition, and his sadness at not being able to celebrate with Lisa Marie. 

He said: “It’s sort of a bittersweet moment right now because I think of how much I wish she was here right now to get to celebrate with me.

“It’s the same thing I feel with Elvis; I wish that they could see these moments, you know? It’s just sort of strange to celebrate at a time of such deep grief. But I sort of think of it as a way to honour her. This is for her.”

Just days before her death, Lisa Marie had praised Austin’s portrayal of her late father at the Golden Globe Awards, where Austin won the prize for Best Actor in a Drama. 

Lisa Marie Presley's legacy as a singer and her complex journey through life will forever be remembered by fans and loved ones alike.