RAPPER HEAVY D DIED FROM PULMONARY EMBOLISM CAUSED BY DVT

SHEADING MORE LIGHT OF PULMONARY EMBOLISM Coroners say the hip-hop star was killed by a blood clot that probably formed during a flight from London to LA. # guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 December 2011 10.57 GMT The sudden death of Heavy D was down to a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis, coroners have announced. The rapper was killed by a blood clot that probably formed in his leg during a flight from London to Los Angeles, and which made its way fatally to his lung. Although Heavy D's autopsy was initially inconclusive, the Los Angeles county department of coroner have now completed their investigation into the 44-year-old's cause of death. When Heavy D was found outside his home on 8 November, collapsed but conscious, the clot in his lungs was likely restricting blood flow and putting severe pressure on his heart. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre. Heavy D's flight "is the connection", Craig Harvey, chief coroner investigator, told the New York Daily News. "He had reportedly been in London for about six weeks and had returned to LA within the preceding week or so." The 344lb (26 stone) rapper was found to have deep leg vein thrombosis, pointing to the formation of a clot during the long flight. Air travel, as well as obesity, are common causes of thrombosis. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot formed in another part of the body migrates to the lungs and blocks an artery. Despite early reports, pneumonia has been ruled out as a cause of death. So have drugs, despite a toxicology report that found medication in Heavy D's system. "He was treating himself with cough syrup," Harvey told the LA Times, "but it was not contributory." Born Dwight Arrington Myers, Heavy D was one of hip-hop's leading voices in the late 80s and 90s. As leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, he released five top 40 albums in the US and the international hit single Now That We Found Love in 1991. Before returning to the stage in October 2011, Heavy D had not performed live in 15 years.