RIP Alan B'Stard

[ARW]

[GMM]

I always saw him as a role model, especially in Bottom. Tragic loss. The only benefit is we'll get to see some re-runs on the TV.

[Bill Wright]

You never know what's coming do you?

Is it wise to live frugally, work hard, and save money, in order to enjoy thirty years of retirement? Or should we bear in mind that me might drop dead rather earlier than planned? To defer gratification until a beautiful future arrives is a massive gamble.

Bill

[Tim+]

I hate to say it but "died suddenly" and "no suspicious circumstances" usually = suicide. Very sad.

Tim

[Brian Gaff]

What was that about taking time to smell the roses? Very true. I used to be for the work ethic, and for some who enjoyed their work that is fine, but for amy, I think a bit of me time is good. Brian

[JimK]

Or a seizure....

Jim K

[Scott M]

More likely something connected to that quad-bike accident that nearly killed him a few years ago.

[Another Dave]

The quad bike accident in 1998 left him with brain damage, in particular epilepsy. His wife says, if she had to guess, a fit killed him.

Another Dave

[Adrian]

They were interviewing Peter Richardson, director of the Comic Strip, on R4's Today this am - his son had been chatting with Mayall less than an hour before, and he seemed absolutely fine. Reckoned it was a "seizure", and was convinced that it was related to the quadbike incident.

[Dave Liquorice]

or stroke(*).

or heart attack.

(*) A stroke completely without warning is what go my Mum but not straight away, oh no we had a week+ of her in hospital all but 100% paralised (she could manage a weak smile and some facial expression and just about move the fingers of one hand). But you could tell from her eyes and the facial expression that she was still fully aware inside. Horrible, just horrible. It would have been so much better if the stroke had taken her straight out.

[Tim+]

I think if this was the case the death would be described as "unexplained" until after a post-mortem and all other causes excluded.

I'm not saying that a seizure couldn't have killed him but it's a bit unusual to declare "no suspicious circumstances" unless you know something for sure, and in someone previously alert and well hours beforehand, that would require further investigations (like a PM).

Tim

[Tim+]

Not at all unusual in suicide cases and doesn't prove anything one way or another.

To be honest, I hope it wasn't suicide but the pattern of press releases is typical for a suicide case.

Tim

[Tim+]

Which would need a PM to confirm. The confirmation of "no suspicious circumstances" came too quickly.

Tim

[The Natural Philosopher]

No suspicious circumstances means no evidence of third party involvement.

It neither rules out nor confirms suicide.

[Tim+]

Indeed, but when it's issued too early for full PM results, it has implications. It means that they KNOW the cause of death without a PM, and in someone of that age dying suddenly, not doing a PM is suspicious UNLESS you know with great certainty the cause of death.

Tim

[Adrian]

D'you think that "great certainty" could include a history of epilepsy, from a known cause such as a serious brain injury - and death occurring during a large seizure?

[Tim+]

No. Very hard to be certain that a sudden death was caused by the epilepsy without a PM.

Tim

[The Natural Philosopher]

[Tim+]

Well the press stories I'm reading today have changed subtly and I see the death is "not thought to be suspicious" and although the logic might seem odd to some, this is less suggestive of suicide and more suggestive of a medical cause. I stand by my point that a quick declaration of "no suspicious circumstances" before a PM is often suggestive of a suicide.

I note also that his wife has made a statement suggesting a medical cause and I'm not so cynical that I'd disbelieve her without more evidence. If it had been suicide I think all we would have got is "no comment".

Personally pleased that it's not looking like suicide now.

Tim

[John Williamson]

Does the cause matter to anyone other than his immediate family? Dead is dead, and it's apparently not murder or what used to be called death by misadventure.