R.I.P. Heath Ledger

[LUXXX]

I think the LA memorial will be a tad more public...

 

[*Bianca*]

Police puzzled over delayed call for help

Article from: Sunday Herald Sun
Lucy Carne, Stefanie Balogh and Peta Hellard
January 27, 2008 12:00am

A WITNESS claims Mary-Kate Olsen's minders were let into Heath Ledger's flat three minutes before paramedics.

The sensational claims came as the star's body began its journey home to Perth and as plans were being made for a star-studded memorial today in Los Angeles.

Manhattan chef Joseph Cotto told the Sunday Herald Sun that as Ledger lay dead on a mattress on his bedroom floor, the actor's masseuse let actor Olsen's bodyguards into the apartment ahead of emergency crews.

Mr Cotto's version of events contradicts assertions the Full House star's security guards were never left alone with the body. Mr Cotto, 37, said he was walking past Ledger's SoHo apartment on Wednesday (Tuesday afternoon, New York time) when he saw men running into the building.

"I thought someone was having a heart attack, so I came over to see if I could help," Cotto said yesterday. "I saw the masseuse in the foyer and she seemed nervous and in shock, like she didn't know what to do.

"I saw her let the bodyguards in, she was freaking out.

"They were the first people to arrive, then the paramedics and police turned up about two or three minutes later.

"I saw it all. Anything could have happened in that time."

Ledger's masseuse, Diana Wolozin, speed-dialled his rumoured flame, Olsen, four times after finding Ledger face down and unconscious.

Three of the calls to Olsen -- made between 3.17pm and 3.26pm -- were made before she called an ambulance. One lasted 99 seconds.

Police investigators say they plan to grill Olsen about the frantic phone calls and why she sent bodyguards to the apartment.

The masseuse is also in trouble after education authorities notified the NYPD that she did not have a licence to practise -- punishable by up to four years in jail.

"Heath is unconscious. I don't know what to do!" Ms Wolozin screamed in her first call to Olsen, police reportedly said.

Olsen, who has an apartment around the corner from Ledger's -- but who was in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival at the time -- replied: "I'm sending my private security there."

When Ms Wolozin then found Ledger had turned cold she called Olsen again, saying: "I think he may be dead."

Rather than suggest she call 911, Olsen said: "I already have people coming over."

A police source reportedly said later: "So, why wasn't the first call to 911? People who work for the stars are consumed with how things appear."

It has been suggested the bodyguards may have "cleared" the scene.

No illegal drugs were found in the apartment.

Results of toxicology tests from a post-mortem are not expected for a week.

Yesterday, Olsen released her first comment, in a prepared statement to People magazine, since Ledger's death.

"Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time," it said.

A private memorial service for the actor in LA is understood to be scheduled for today.

Ledger's family arrived in LA yesterday -- only hours before the actor's body was removed from a New York funeral home to begin its journey home to Perth, where he is expected to be buried this week.

The family group included Ledger's father, Kim, mother, Sally, and older sister, Kate.

Six undertakers removed Ledger's body from the Frank E. Campbell funeral home in Manhattan in a simple wooden shipping crate, lifting it into a black hearse as locals, photographers and video crews crowded around.

Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson, 23, added her tribute to those of many other luminaries yesterday, saying: "I'm really just so very shocked. He was an incredibly sweet, kind-hearted and enthusiastic person. And he loved his daughter -- I mean, that was like the light of his life. It's just a terrible loss."

Olsen and Perth model Gemma Ward are among several young women linked to Ledger since he split with Michelle Williams -- mother of daughter Matilda, 2.

Ms Ward's father, Dr Gary Ward, said Ledger had been "really happy" during a Christmas break in Perth.

Dr Ward said he was proud his daughter played a part in that happiness.
"The relationship he had with Gemma is really private," he said.

Dr Ward said he believed she would return to Perth this week for Ledger's funeral.

He added: "His holiday in Perth was one of the best holidays of his life, or best times of his life. He was really happy.

"He was happy and he was having a great time and I'm proud of that fact, that Gemma may have played some part in that.

"My daughter (Sophie) had said that he was edgy, but I think that was just about his privacy."

When asked how Gemma was handling Ledger's death, Dr Ward said: "Use your imagination."

Matilda is set to inherit a multi-million dollar fortune -- properties and financial interests in several businesses, amassed by the actor over his successful 12-year career.

Speaking in New York, Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, who is also from Perth, said he was satisfied by the handling of the US inquiry.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23114805-662,00.html

 

[m.j.]

gemma's father should shut up.... he cannot say if he heath had the best time cos he was with gemma. the mother of his child is the only of many girls mentioned, that i really feel sorry for. they lived together, there are just millions of pics of them as a happy couple. and IMO we should stop with whole drug thing, because, he died. so, does it really matter how? and i do not understand the 3 funerals... i mean, he should have grave somewhere where his kid can visit anytime. it makes the most sense to me.
and MK sounded like someone who just doesn;t want to involve and i respect that.
why can't just people leave him alone... all those papers didn't care too much for him cos he wasn't like LL or britney... he didn't make too much noise, or acted like some superstar. he seemed like a nice guy. how can he rest in peace with all papers saying whatever they can think of...

brokenenglish, what medication were u talking about??? rx???

 

[inhirnamy137]

Why was Mary-Kate the last # called if him and Gemma were SO close...

It seems like since he died alot of people are claiming to be close to him.

The same thing happend to Elvis and Marilyn...

 

[LetThemEatCake]

i need to say this, why do celebrity or celebrities' siblings always have to take all types of medication?

• Hunter Tylo's son who recently passed away

Her son was taking medication because he had seizures frequently. That's what ended up killing him. He had a seizure, fell into the pool, drowned and no one was at home.

 

[omgspicegirls]

gemma's father should shut up.... he cannot say if he heath had the best time cos he was with gemma. the mother of his child is the only of many girls mentioned, that i really feel sorry for.

I agree ,,I feel really sorry for Michelle.
Heath was a total player ,,according to the tabloids who always tell the truth Ive read that he dated MK, Gemma, Helena and Lindsay sinse he broke up with Michelle ,,what made Gemma so special?
Unfortunately when you are a star you have no rights to privacy ,,so the drug stories will keep on coming for god knows how long.

 

[Working Girl]

I don't think heath was exclusive to any girl when he broke-up with Michelle.

 

[LetThemEatCake]

What years was he with Naomi Watts?

 

[omgspicegirls]

From 2002 to 2004.

 

[lostinemotion]

i agree with you MJ. he shouldn't make statements like that.
he was probably being cordial and they took it to the next level,to stay connected, i feel.

 

[lostinemotion]

It's unlikely a doctor would suggest he take all the meds he had in his room. I can't see why he would have valium and benzos. But then, maybe he just took the prescribed amount of one of them, sure. Still, not likely IMO.

jeisa, as i mentioned before, the local news says, the only pills in his room were the sleeping pills.
the other pills were closed up and in the cabinet of the bathroom.
you should see my prescription cabinet. even though i have not touched them in years, i still have them.
even my dog has anxiety med- he doesn't take them- just for airplanes.

 

[brokenenglish]

What years was he with Naomi Watts?

From 2002 to 2004.

I have always heard that relationship was on and off during the 2 years.

 

[LetThemEatCake]

^^Yes I heard that too. I liked them together. She was the older woman.

 

[harrietcamilla]

gemma's father should shut up.... he cannot say if he heath had the best time cos he was with gemma. the mother of his child is the only of many girls mentioned, that i really feel sorry for. they lived together, there are just millions of pics of them as a happy couple.

I agree i wish gemmas family would stop making statements im sure her sister has as well. and there seems alot to contradict he was 'so happy'
i feel that his family and michelle should be left in peace whoever his last girlfriend was since their split.

 

[lostinemotion]

yeah, talk about awkward.
i do know one thing for sure. when you have a love affair the way michelle and heath did ( i know people who directly know them and heard all about it) any girl afterward is just going to be someone to pass the time. companionship or friendship.
it takes a lot of energy for a big affair to take place.
and you can tell gemma's dad tried to clear up the air and do damage control for the sister's comments.
she just needs to shut her trap.

 

[iluvjeisa]

jeisa, as i mentioned before, the local news says, the only pills in his room were the sleeping pills.
the other pills were closed up and in the cabinet of the bathroom.
you should see my prescription cabinet. even though i have not touched them in years, i still have them.
even my dog has anxiety med- he doesn't take them- just for airplanes.

Valium and the other benzos he had are sleeping aids. Valium is seldom prescribed these days because it gives a rush - which makes people take more than they should sometimes, which can be very dangerous. Anyway, the meds he got in the UK would be something to look at. Perhaps there were unfortunate interactions.

 

[Working Girl]

I am biased. I thought Heath and Naomi were absolutely wonderful. But it was short lived. Just like his relationship with Michelle, but they created a daughter that has his beautiful eyes.

 

[LUXXX]

Gemma's father is certainly adding fuel to the fire...it's clear Heath was not exclusive with anyone...and this is creating a bit of a media mess when it comes to MK and Gemma.

He lead such a private life but in death, it's like an explosion...almost like he was always this public. The MK story is the strangest by far...even days later...

Michelle has to be both pissed and sad right now...

 

[Zen]

I think his only true love will be his daughter Matilda.

I also think it's combination of pnemonia, sleep deprivation and too
much medication that played into his sudden death and nothing more.

As for this Gemma Ward thing. Her father needed not to make comments
like that on how he believes Gemma played a role into Ledger's happiness.
It just makes Gemma look like a attention wh*re.

His happiness grew because of his daughter Matilda and not because of
Gemma.

 

[41 street]

i will miss him, he was one of my favorite actors.....
my prayers will be with his family