TV and radio star Paul O'Grady's cause of death has been revealed weeks after his death.
After it was first reported Paul had died 'unexpectedly' at home, his official death certificate has confirmed that Paul died from sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
According to the British Heart Foundation, sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, or SADS, is when someone dies suddenly following a cardiac arrest and no obvious cause can be found
But while his sudden passing came as a shock, the iconic comedian's health had been ailing for years.
The Cheshire-born star had previously survived several heart attacks along with a near-fatal bout of covid.
Heart disease ran in his family, with his mother and father once both suffering heart attacks in the same week. Sadly his father's proved to be fatal. His mum later died of a separate attack.
The iconic TV host also struggled with cigarette addiction, smoking 40 a day for years and joking that he had two great loves in this world, "Benson and Hedges".
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His first heart attack happened in 2002 when Paul was just 47.
He switched to a healthier lifestyle, starting the day with a swim and taking long country walks near his home in Aldington, Kent, but fell off the wagon two years later.
He had a second heart attack in 2006, this time more serious. After a raft of tests and surgery to clear a blocked artery, he was released from hospital and placed on blood thinning medication.
He told The Mirror at the time: "I'm like a broken toy - I'm f****d. I think I should really just be taken out and shot."
"It's fair to say I'm not at my best. I've had so many blood tests I've got the arms of a junkie. You wouldn't even recognise me.
"I go through days of feeling very tired. The tablets make me cough a lot and my blood's so thin that if I bang myself on the sofa I get a great big bruise. I'm a bloody wreck."
The attack came almost a year after ex-partner and manager Brendan Murphy died of brain cancer at 49.
The TV host added: "The doctor said I'd put a lot of pressure on my heart with a trauma like that and that it's not uncommon for something to happen a year later."
Paul said he knew that smoking had contributed to his attacks , but said there were other factors at play.
He added: "I've always said I have two great loves, Benson and Hedges, so it's not been easy quitting.
"But while smoking hasn't helped, I think my heart problems are congenital. Mum and dad died from it.
"You've no idea how much I've looked after myself - gym, swimming, long walks, soya milk... to think I've deprived myself of Jersey full-fat milk for all this time."
At first, Paul was unaware that he had suffered an attack. For four days he carried on doing strenuous housework at his 200-acre farm, including lifting heavy furniture, until he finally went to hospital.
The star had had an inkling that he was unwell but tried to shrug it off. He revealed: "I felt ill at the start of the week, the Monday or Tuesday, like I had a nasty hangover.
"But I just got on with things. I was even moving furniture around, making ice cream, the lot.
"By Friday I had chest pains - real, shocking pains. I knew something was seriously wrong and got someone to take me to hospital. There was no panic, no ambulances, but I knew something was wrong.
"It was only when they did tests that I found out it was a heart attack. They could tell from the damage that I'd had it almost all week."
Announcing the tragic news of Paul's death in a statement, husband Andre Portasio said: "It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.
"We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.
"He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion.
"I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years."
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