Warwick Davis's wife died after cardiac arrest
Samantha Davis, the actress and wife of Warwick Davis, died after suffering a cardiac arrest hours before a hospital was planning to discharge her, an inquest has found.
Ms Davis died aged 53 at University College Hospital in London on 24 March last year.
She had been admitted to hospital on 7 February following a sudden loss of mobility in her lower limbs after a disc prolapse.
The inquest at Inner West London Coroner's Court concluded Ms Davis died of arrhythmic cardiac arrest following complications of essential surgical treatment.
Ms Davis had undergone a thoracotomy operation - a surgical procedure where the chest wall is opened - in the February before her death.
Her condition improved following a further thoracotomy a month later and the University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street was planning to discharge her, the inquest heard.
However, Ms Davis went into cardiac arrest at 23:25 GMT on 23 March and was pronounced dead at 00:28 on 24 March following a failed attempt to resuscitate her.
Professor Fiona Wilcox, senior coroner for Inner West London, said: "I am satisfied that the medical cause of death should be arrhythmic cardiac arrest and complications following left thoracotomies.
"In my view, the stress of everything together has precipitated this arrhythmic cardiac arrest in a lady who was not known to have any previous arrhythmia problems."
Prof Wilcox said Ms Davis had achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder which results in dwarfism, that was "complicated by spinal cord compression".
The coroner said: "In my view, if this compression hadn't occurred, Ms Davis simply wouldn't have been so unwell.
"She wouldn't have needed two lots of major surgeries."
Discussing the care she received in hospital, Prof Wilcox said: "I have found nothing but excellent care being delivered to this lady and all of her complications were appropriately managed.
"It is frankly heartbreaking that the surgery itself was successful only for complications to arise and to cause her death."
'I miss her hugs': Warwick Davis's tribute to wife
Hospice charity pays tribute to Samantha Davis
Together with her husband, Ms Davis co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012 to help individuals with dwarfism and their families.
The couple starred together in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, where Ms Davis played a goblin.
Mr Davis, known for his roles in Star Wars and the Harry Potter films, dedicated his Bafta film fellowship award to Ms Davis during an emotional tribute at the ceremony in February.
He said "life has been pretty tough" since she died, and "she was always so supportive of my career, encouraging me to grab every opportunity with both hands".
The couple met during the filming of 1988 fantasy movie Willow. They married in 1991 and have two children.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
West London Coroner's Court
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
18 hours ago
- Fox News
Tropical fruit could be the answer to better heart health, researchers suggest
Incorporating fruit every day is an important part of a balanced diet. But researchers believe that mangoes can particularly benefit heart health. A new study published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association found that mango consumption has a "significant" impact on cardio-metabolic responses and conditions in post-menopausal women. Post-menopause – the period when women do not have their menstrual cycle for at least 12 months after menopause – can increase the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis, obesity, depression and cardiovascular disease, according to experts. Researchers from the University of California, Davis, studied the effect of two weeks of mango intake at 330 grams per day in a group of "relatively healthy" post-menopausal women with an overweight or obese BMI. The study analyzed the impact of this diet on microvascular function and cardio-metabolic markers. Compared to two weeks without a daily serving of mango, the primary outcome did not detect a significant change in microvascular function, but did note that blood pressure and cholesterol levels were "significantly reduced." "Two weeks of daily mango intake was associated with a significant decrease in multiple BP outcomes in a group of healthy postmenopausal women," the researchers wrote in the publication. "The glucose and insulin responses were also moderated after mango intake." The research was taken a step further with a small probe study that compared mango consumption to a calorically equivalent amount of white bread. In both groups, blood glucose levels rose after one hour, but were "significantly less" after mango intake. Insulin levels also rose after one hour, yet remained elevated in those who consumed white bread. Researchers said this suggests a "moderating effect of mangoes on glucose absorption and metabolism." The study concluded that further research using the amount of typical mango consumption over an extended period is necessary. The researchers noted the short length of mango intake as a study limitation. For more Health articles, visit Registered dietitian nutritionist Lauri Wright, Ph.D., director of nutrition programs at the University of South Florida's College of Public Health, supported the addition of colorful fruit to the diet. "This small but intriguing study suggests that mangoes, already celebrated for their antioxidants and fiber, may also support vascular health in postmenopausal women," she told Fox News Digital. (She was not involved in the new study.) "After just two servings a day for several weeks, participants saw improvements in blood vessel function and reductions in cholesterol." Although Wright is not calling mangoes a "miracle cure," she said these findings reinforce the idea that "adding colorful, plant-based foods to your plate can have heart-protective benefits." Mangoes offer a "unique" mix of compounds, including mangiferin and quercetin, which can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, she said – conditions linked to heart disease. "The takeaway? Enjoy mangoes as part of a varied, whole-food diet rich in fruits and vegetables," Wright said. "Mangoes are delicious and possibly heart-smart, so that's a win-win."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
S.C. Senator advocates for medical marijuana for 2026
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – The Compassionate Care Act did not pass in South Carolina for this session, a bill that would legalize medical marijuana. The bill would legalize medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying medical conditions as long as it's prescribed by a doctor. Medical marijuana is legal in 39 states, but not in South Carolina. Senator Tom Davis (R – Beauford) said after over a decade of trying, 2026 is the year. 'That pharmacist is going to take an oath. I mean, we're not just going to dispense this when it's not warranted, you know, so there's checks and balances in place when you have medical providers involved,' said Brian Clark from South Carolina Pharmacy Association. Davis said it's a no-brainer because it promotes medical freedom. 'It is a conservative bill. It is strictly limited to medical conditions, and really this is all about helping patients,' Davis said. Clark said he has heard continuously that there needs to be more research, but he said almost every study said 70-80% of voters think it's needed. 'Well, medical marijuana has been used for years and years. I mean, we're looking at least probably 70, 80 years. At what point do we do we start with needing more studies?' Clark said. The bill has passed in the senate twice before, but the Speaker of the House, Murrell Smith, has said there is not enough support in the House to pass the bill. 'Speaker Smith's previous statement on the medical marijuana bill holds true,' said a statement from Speaker Smith's office. Governor Henry McMaster said last week that he recognizes both sides of the argument. 'They have it was a very compelling situation,' McMaster said. 'On the other hand, law enforcement almost took into and are still have grave concerns. I think what we need to do is study it very carefully, get as much information as we can, and try to do the right thing.' Davis said that he plans on talking to Smith directly because he believes that he has the votes in the House to pass it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
a day ago
- CNN
Are you forgetful? 5 tips to remember the things that matter
FacebookTweetLink Follow Editor's note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life's mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here. (CNN) — Most of us are familiar with the frustration of forgetting — whether it's struggling with a word on the tip of the tongue, misplacing important items such as keys or glasses, or even disremembering why you came into a room. How can we do anything but forget — especially in a time in which we are subjected to a firehose of information every waking minute, between our life in the physical world and what comes at us electronically via smartphones, TVs, computers and more? The average American is exposed to an estimated 34 gigabytes — or 11.8 hours' worth — of information every day, Dr. Charan Ranganath wrote in his most recent book, 'Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters.' That figure came from a 2009 report by the Global Information Industry Center at the University of California, San Diego. 'Last time I looked it up, the estimate increased even more since,' Ranganath told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently on his podcast Chasing Life. Ranganath directs the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California, Davis, where he is also a professor of psychology and neuroscience. Far from remembering all this information, he said the science of memory shows that humans are designed to forget. In fact, Ranganath's book references the work of cognitive psychologist George Miller, who concluded in a 1956 paper that we can only keep seven items (plus or minus two) in mind at a time. (Subsequent research, Ranganath wrote, shows the number to be closer to three or four items.) 'I think one of the misconceptions out there … is that we're supposed to be taking everything in that's around us,' he said. 'In fact, our brains really operate on this principle of economy: to get as little information in as possible and to make as much of that information.' You can learn more about the nature of memory by listening to the podcast's full episode here. 'It's all about this economy and being able to use attention as this big filter, to be able to focus on the things that are most important,' he said. 'Sometimes it's the things that you expect, and sometimes it's the stuff that violates your expectations — and that's where there's the most meaning,' he said. 'But it also means that we miss things sometimes, and we end up with frustration because our attention was directed at the wrong place at the wrong time.' Improving memory isn't about trying to stuff more information inside your head. 'The thing that I like to say is: Don't try to remember more, remember better,' Ranganath said. 'Sometimes remembering better means memorizing less.' One way to do so, Ranganath said, is with a process called chunking — or grouping many things into one. We remember the alphabet this way as well as our Social Security number and the names of the Great Lakes (the acronym HOMES for Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior). By grouping these items, you reduce the number of things you have to remember: Instead of 26 separate items, the alphabet becomes one. Similarly, memory athletes — who compete to memorize as many digits of pi as possible or the order of a deck of cards — 'develop strategies that allow them to meaningfully slot the information that they're trying to remember into this larger structure so that 10 things can become one thing,' Ranganath said. What can you do if you struggle with forgetfulness? Here are Ranganath's five tricks to help form memories for events that matter. All you have to is remember to 'call a MEDIC!' he said via email. Attach what you want to remember to something of importance. 'You can remember information like names if you can tie them into information that has meaning to you,' he said. For instance, if you are a fan of Greek mythology, you can link Ranganath's first name, Charan, to Charon, the ferryman of the underworld who, for a price, transports the souls of the dead across the River Styx. 'And (you can) imagine me ferrying people across the river of the dead,' he said. Such vivid imagery can help you remember a name. Test yourself. Even if you make a mistake, Ranganath said trial and error is one of the best ways to remember something. 'If you're learning a new name or foreign language word, take a guess about what the name could be or guess about the meaning of the word,' he said. When you learn the answer, he said, the brain can 'tweak that memory to make sure it is more closely associated with the right answer and less likely to be associated with competing answers.' Make it pop. 'Just as it's easier to find a hot pink Post-it note on a desk full of yellow notes, it's easier to find memories that have features (that) stand out from other memories,' Ranganath said. For example, 'When you put down your keys, take a moment to attend to a detail like a sound or a unique visual cue,' he said. It will go a long way toward helping you remember where you put them, he said, as you're frantically scrambling to get out the door. Take advantage of the fact that the brain has adapted to flag moments that are significant. 'We retain memories for events that are important — in a biological sense,' Ranganath said. 'When we have experiences that are rewarding, scary or embarrassing, chemicals like dopamine, noradrenaline or serotonin are released, promoting plasticity.' These neurotransmitters help cement the experience in your memory a bit more. Curiosity can also play a role. 'We have found that being curious has a similar effect on memory,' he said, noting that curiosity activates 'dopamine-carrying areas of the brain' and promotes learning. 'So, before you learn, get curious about the subject!' he said. Use your senses to do a little time traveling. 'Our memories for events, or episodic memories, are tied to where and when the event took place,' Ranganath said. 'That's why hearing a song that played during your summer abroad in college or smelling food that your grandmother used to make can immediately transport you back in time.' 'If you are trying to recall a past event, imagine yourself in that place and time — how you felt, what you were thinking about, the sights and sounds of the place — and you'll find yourself pulling up a lot,' he said. We hope these five tips help you remember more and memorize less. Listen to the full episode here. And join us next Tuesday for a new episode of the Chasing Life. CNN Audio's Sofía Sanchez contributed to this report.
