Since when is it “natural” for a 34 year old to die from a “double pulmonary embolism”?
Autopsy: Vandenbroucke died of natural causes
The results of an autopsy performed in Senegal indicate that cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke died of a double pulmonary embolism combined with an existing heart problem, Belgian newspapers reported Saturday.. . . According to reports published in Het Laatste Nieuws and Het Nieuwsblad, investigators concluded that Vandenbroucke died a natural death and his body had now been released for a return to Belgium.
The rider suffered a “double pulmonary embolism as well as having an existing heart problem”, Salobe Ngingie, the public prosecutor for the Thies region overseeing the probe, told Het Nieuwsblad. A pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches, usually caused by a blood clot.
While officials determined that Vandenbroucke’s death was from natural causes, there were indications of drug and alcohol abuse.
“The autopsy showed that deceased had several injection marks on his left arm,” Ngingie said, adding that a syringe, alcohol and medicines were found in Vandenbroucke’s hotel room.
See velonews.com.
Injection marks, blot clot, anyone else thinking what I’m thinking?
October 17th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I totally agree. Pretty quick conclusion in the cause of death, and under the circumstances…natural? Natural my ass.
I wonder if we will see a bunch of freak show candidates in the future when the effects of years of doping start to wash out. Kind of like what has been seen with some of the steroid blasters of the NFL.
October 18th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Maybe Senegal’s medical community has a broader definition of “natural causes”.
October 18th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Hmmm, good point. Are they under socialized medicine?
October 18th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Dave, are you suggesting a death panel was involved?
October 18th, 2009 at 8:34 am
>> facepalm <>headdesk<<
Do not encourage these people Jonny.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:10 am
…word on the street is that it was a hit by belgian trappist monks, ‘cuz frankie boy was reluctant to use his cycling fame to promote their fabled brew…
…turns out that vdb preferred french wine over the homeland lager n’ ale…
…who knew ???…
October 18th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Death panels…trappist monks…oh yeah, good stuff!
October 18th, 2009 at 11:56 am
it’s “natural” if you’re shootin’ up….
October 18th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
What happened to that story about Templar knights seeking refuge in Trappist monastaries?