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Thicke died after aorta artery tore, then ruptured

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alan Thicke poses for a photo in the pressroom at the 42nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

LOS ANGELES >> Alan Thicke’s death certificate states the actor died of a ruptured aorta.

Thicke’s death certificate was released today, two days after the actor was buried in a Santa Barbara cemetery with several of his “Growing Pains” cast mates in attendance.

The cause of death was determined by a doctor and no autopsy was performed on the Canadian actor, songwriter and talk show host.

Thicke died at a Burbank, Calif., hospital on Dec. 13 at age 69.

His death certificate released today states Thicke’s aorta artery ruptured three hours after first developing a tear.

His wife, Tanya Thicke, wrote in a statement released Tuesday that their family was dealing with “gut wrenching sadness and unbelievable grief.”

An aortic tear also killed actor John Ritter in 2003.

6 responses to “Thicke died after aorta artery tore, then ruptured”

  1. manakuke says:

    Another name for the health condition Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm; insidiously the vessel grew larger and weakened.

  2. Hotel says:

    Abdominal aneurysms kill over 20,000 Americans per year, and are easily detected by a simple ultra-sound examination.

    Relatively inexpensive test under Medicare Part B. But! You gotta ask for the examination. You “Bet your life”?

    My father dropped dead in a hospital ER, age 67, in my mom RN arms, where he was being treated for a “tummy ache”.

    I ask for, and receive, the Medicare required CT scan every two years for my aneurysm.

  3. fiveo says:

    Very few survive these kinds of aneurysms and even when detected, surgery outcomes are not very good either. it is pretty much a ticking time bomb and when it goes off
    it is best to die immediately rather than lingering for two to 3 days before you pass. it is hell for both the person suffering and his loved ones as nothing can really be done.
    Thicke was fortunate in that he passed almost immediately and did not suffer.

  4. inverse says:

    John Ritter of Three’s Company died of an aortic aneurysm as well.

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