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Cocaine killed Who star
TEWKESBURY, England -- The Who's bass guitarist John Entwistle died from a heart stoppage triggered by a "moderate" amount of cocaine, an inquest has been told. Entwistle died in a Las Vegas hotel room on June 27, on the eve of a U.S. tour by the veteran band. His bedroom companion at the time of his death was not identified during the inquest hearing. The hearing, in Tewkesbury, England, on Wednesday, revealed the star had taken cocaine before his death and that he had an already weakened heart. Toxicology tests showed no alcohol but two different types of cocaine. It was said that the 57-year-old's death was also caused in part by a heart condition aggravated by years of smoking. The UK's Press Association said coroner Lester Maddrell concluded that "he died from the effects of a single moderate usage of cocaine" coming on top of a heart condition. Entwistle formed The Who with friend Pete Townshend, which became one of the most influential British bands of the late 1960s and 1970s. The band had a string of hits, including Substitute, Who Are You and My Generation, and a enjoyed the rock-and-roll lifestyle. Dr Jeremy Uff, consultant histopathologist at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, said that Entwistle's arteries were "very narrow" with one completely blocked by a clogging of fatty and scar tissue, in keeping with a history of high cholesterol levels, and compounded by smoking. Entwistle's GP, Dr Tim Healey, said the star had been suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels for some years. The doctor said that the rock star smoked 20 cigarettes and drank six to seven units of alcohol a day but kept regular checks on his blood and cholesterol levels. Professor Alexander Forrest, of Sheffield University's department of forensic pathology, said Entwistle had taken cocaine within four hours of his death. The amount of the drug would not be lethal for a person with a healthy heart, Forrest was quoted by the Associated Press. He added: "It is likely that the use of a small amount of cocaine by someone with compromised coronary arteries can be associated with sudden death." Maddrell concluded: "To summarise the amount of cocaine found to be present was not a huge amount but in someone with pre-existing and naturally occurring heart disease it could bring about a fatal stopping in the rhythm of the heart." None of Entwistle's family were at the hearing in which the coroner went through written statements and evidence gathered by U.S. authorities.
In the U.S., an earlier inquiry into his death by Clark County Coroner Ron Flud said the cause was due to combination of cocaine and heart disease. Flud concluded that the cocaine caused a heart attack by constricting Entwistle's coronary arteries. The British inquest was required because Entwistle's body was returned to his home country for burial. Meanwhile, Las Vegas stripper Alison Rowse, 32, has previously told reporters she was with Entwistle on the night he died. "There were only two people in that room and one of those is dead," she said recently. "No-one knows about John's final hours except me." Miss Rowse said she first met the musician in 1989 when his band arrived in Las Vegas during a U.S. tour. Twice-married Entwistle was living with his long-time girlfriend Lisa Pritchard-Johnson at the time of his death.
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