Paul O’Grady died from cardiac arrhythmia, the 67-year-old’s death certificate reveals
- The presenter died following a cardia arrest in his Kent home at the age of 67
- The star’s death certificate showed his coronary heart disease linked to his death
Paul O’Grady died from a cardiac arrhythmia, his death certificate has revealed.
The presenter died following a cardiac arrest in his Kent home on March 28 at the age of 67.
He had spoken openly about his struggles with heart disease, which his death certificate – obtained by the Daily Express – showed was linked to his death.
The grandfather-of-two had three heart attacks between 2002 and 2014, while he also suffered from kidney failure and was unable to work for two months after contracting Covid in 2022.
The star shot to fame as trailblazing comic drag act Lily Savage before becoming one of the country’s best-loved TV presenters and DJs.
Paul O’Grady died following a cardiac arrest in his Kent home on March 28 at the age of 67
The Lily Savage star had spoken openly about his struggles with heart disease, which his death certificate – obtained by the Daily Express – showed was linked to his death. Pictured: left, with husband Andre Portasio, right
The star shot to fame as trailblazing comic drag act Lily Savage before becoming one of the country’s best-loved TV presenters and DJs
Andre Portasio, who married O’Grady in 2017, paid tribute to his ‘humour, wit and compassion’ in a statement announcing his death released just before 3am.
O’Grady became a household name in the early noughties, known for his wit and love of animals, and hosted a string of television programmes including his self-titled daytime chat show, The Paul O’Grady Show, which began airing in 2004.
He also took over the reins from Blind Date’s long-running presenter and his close friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015, to host the Channel 5 reboot of the show in 2017.
He also fronted Blankety Blank as well as ITV’s award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.
O’Grady had his first attack at just 46, where he was rushed to hospital and underwent a two-hour surgery.
After this, he gave up smoking, having previously been reported to get through 40 cigarettes a day.
But just over four years later the TV presenter was back in hospital after a second heart attack at the age of 51.
And after an attack of angina in 2013, O’Grady was also reported to have had a third heart attack in 2014.
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome – or SADS – is when a person’s heart stops suddenly and unexpectedly and the cause cannot be found.
If the electrical impulses controlling your heartbeat go wrong, it can cause an abnormal heart rhythm known as an arrhythmia.
O’Grady had three heart arrcks between 2002 and 2014, while he also suffered from kidney failure and was unable to work for two months after contracting Covid in 2022
Paul O’Grady with Barbara Windsor and Cilla Black at the Royal Variety Performance 2001
Paul O’Grady laughs as the Queen looks at a corgi at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in March 2015
This stops the heart from pumping blood around your body, stopping breathing and starving the brain of oxygen.
Also known as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, it affects around 500 perople in the UK every year.
His death certificate was registered six days after his death by his PA and agent Joan Marshrons.
It detailed that his death was brought on by the comic’s coronary heart disease.
The disease blocks your heart’s supply of blood with a build-up of fatty substances in your arteries.
It can be caused by lifestyle choices, such as smoking and drinking alchohol, while those with high cholesterol and blood pressure are also at a higher risk.
