'Blunt impact' killed Richardson

Tragic actress Natasha Richardson died from a "blunt impact to the head" following a skiing accident, New York's medical examiner has ruled.

The 45-year-old stage and screen star fell on the slopes of Mont Tremblant in Montreal, Canada on Monday during a skiing lesson.

The official autopsy report, released yesterday, lists the cause of death as "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head".

She initially shrugged off the accident and appeared to be uninjured, but was later taken to a local hospital after complaining she felt unwell.

Richardson's condition quickly worsened and the actress was flown to a New York medical centre on Tuesday, amid reports she had been declared brain dead.

On Wednesday family members, including actor husband Liam Neeson and her mother Vanessa Redgrave, made the tough decision to switch off her life support machine, and Richardson died a few hours later.