News | Entertainment
9 May 2025 1:35
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Warwick Davis' wife's cause of death has been revealed as arrhythmic cardiac arrest

    Samantha Davis died aged 53 on 24 March, 2024, and an inquest on Monday (14.04.25) at Inner West London Coroner's Court heard the actress - who had the achondroplasia form of dwarfism - underwent a thoracic discectomy at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London on 20 February 2024 and passed away following complications linked to her spinal surgery


    The procedure, intended to address semi-paralysis in her legs, involved cutting through her ribs and deflating a lung.

    Post-surgery, she suffered a haemothorax, leading to the drainage of approximately one litre of fluid. She was then transferred to University College London Hospital for observation.

    After a second haemothorax in March, Samantha showed signs of improvement and was scheduled for discharge on 24 March.

    However, she went into cardiac arrest shortly before midnight on 23 March and was pronounced dead in the early hours of the following day. Resuscitation efforts lasted 53 minutes.

    Pathologist Dr John Firth attributed her death to a left haemothorax resulting from surgical complications, noting the presence of over 700ml of blood and clots.

    However, some medical professionals offered differing opinions.

    Cardiothoracic surgeon Mr David Lawrence stated a chest x-ray taken the day before her death appeared satisfactory and suggested that the bleeding was more likely caused by CPR.

    Consultant spinal surgeon Mr Adrian Casey, who performed the discectomy, remarked such blood loss was "unlikely to cause death" and described the cause as "somewhat unexplained".

    Dr Katherine Hunt, UCLH's clinical lead for resuscitation, said Samantha's bleed was more likely a result of CPR and identified signs of an abnormal heart rhythm on the defibrillator rhythm strip.

    Senior Coroner Professor Fiona Wilcox concluded the actress passed away from arrhythmic cardiac arrest following complications from spinal surgical treatment.

    She stated: "On the balance of probabilities, the stress of her surgeries and the complications that arose precipitated the arrhythmia."

    Professor Wilcox emphasised Samantha received "nothing but excellent care" and added: "All of her complications were appropriately managed. It's heartbreaking that the surgery was successful only for complications to arise and cause her death.""

    Warwick, 55, and his family, represented by medical negligence lawyers, attended the inquest seeking clarity on the circumstances surrounding Samantha's death.

    In a statement released through their solicitors, the family expressed hope the inquest would provide them with answers and thanked everyone for their kindness and well-wishes.

    Samantha, who co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012, met Warwick in 1988 on the set of the film 'Willow'.

    They married in 1991 and had two children, Annabelle, 27, and 21-year-old Harrison.

    The couple experienced the loss of two sons - Lloyd, who died at nine days old in 1991, and George, who was lost during pregnancy.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     08 May: Donna Kelce "knew nothing" of Travis Kelce's dating life when he was at college
     08 May: Tony Hawk wants his children to "enjoy the small moments" of parenting
     08 May: Katie Thurston is now in a "medically induced menopause" amid her cancer battle
     08 May: Brenda Song is trying to get her children to "understand" their heritage
     08 May: Emma Ridley says she has been "kicked out" of a film convention over her political views
     08 May: Sean Penn thinks Donald Trump wants to "destroy the world"
     08 May: Kelly Clarkson's children take up too much of her time for her to date
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Damian McKenzie's declared his hand ready for contact as the Chiefs visit the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    When is the next vote in the conclave? Here's when we will next see smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    When is the next vote in the conclave? Here's when we will next see smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney 22:07

    Basketball:
    The Oklahoma City Thunder have emphatically levelled their second round NBA western conference series at 1-all against the Denver Nuggets 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Donna Kelce "knew nothing" of Travis Kelce's dating life when he was at college 21:54

    International:
    Xi Jingping says China will work with Russia to deal with international 'bullying' 21:27

    Entertainment:
    Tony Hawk wants his children to "enjoy the small moments" of parenting 21:24

    Politics:
    The Customs Minister says using cash can help hide exploitation 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Katie Thurston is now in a "medically induced menopause" amid her cancer battle 20:54

    Entertainment:
    Brenda Song is trying to get her children to "understand" their heritage 20:24

    Entertainment:
    Emma Ridley says she has been "kicked out" of a film convention over her political views 19:54

    Entertainment:
    Sean Penn thinks Donald Trump wants to "destroy the world" 19:24


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd