Amy Winehouse Died of Alcohol Poisoning
According to a British coroner, Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning.
Coroner Suzanne Greenaway gave the verdict Wednesday. "The unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels (of alcohol) was her sudden and unexpected death," Greenaway said.
The singer was found dead in bed at her London home on July 23 at age 27. Winehouse had a record of drug and alcohol abuse for years. The initial autopsy performed directly after the death proved inconclusive, but it found no traces of illegal drugs in her system.
Pathologist Suhail Baithun explained that the level of alcohol in her blood put Winehouse more than five times over the legal drunk-driving limit.
Empty vodka bottles were scattered around Winehouse's bedroom, Police Detective Inspector Les Newman said.
According to the singer's doctor, Dr. Christina Romete, Winehouse resumed drinking just before her death after a period of abstinence from alcohol. The doctor said she prescribed Winehouse a sedative to her cope with alcohol withdrawal, but the coroner said these drugs played no role in the singer's death.
Romete said she saw Winehouse the night before she died. The doctor said the singer was "tipsy but calm" and never spoken of suicide. Instead, Winehouse was talking about her upcoming birthday she was planning to celebrate.
