She’s one of the most iconic singers of the modern era. How Amy Winehouse died has been the subject of her interesting life and a new documentary celebrates her artistry as a songwriter.
Winehouse’s life is the subject of a new biopic Back To Black directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The movie showcases her journey in writing her iconic album Back To Black which won five Grammys at the 2008 Grammys Award ceremony, as well as her relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil. “She was out and she was at pubs and at restaurants and, you know, singing when she shouldn’t have been sometimes. And also when she should have been,” actress Marisa Abela, who played the star-studded singer told AP.
Amy Winehouse passed away unexpectedly on July 23, 2011, in her Camden Square home in London at the age of 27. She left behind a legendary discography and an incomparable legacy.
How did Amy Winehouse die?
Amy Winehouse died of accidental alcohol poisoning. According to the autopsy, the singer had 416mg of alcohol per decilitre in her blood, enough to make her comatose and depress her respiratory system. She was found in her bed with a laptop and bottles of vodka on the floor.
Coroner Shirley Radcliffe ruled out any possibility of a suspicious death and said the singer “voluntarily consumed alcohol — a deliberate act that took an unexpected turn and led to her death.”
Mitch and Janis Winehouse released a statement after the findings. “It is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy. We understand there was alcohol in her system when she passed away; it is likely a build up of alcohol in her system over a number of days. The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time,” her parents said.
Upon regular checkups, Christina Romete told the court that she saw Winehouse the night before her death. Per BBC, She recalled that she was“tipsy” but “calm” and coherent and “able to hold a conversation” during the visit. “She didn’t want to die, she was looking forward to the future.”
Winehouse has been open about her struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs. Her mother said after her death, “Her body couldn’t cope with that amount of alcohol after three weeks of abstinence. It was the lack of consistency, the stopping and starting again. Everyone wishes for a peaceful death. My only comfort is that Amy’s was peaceful. I like to think she went to sleep and just didn’t wake up, so I hope she didn’t suffer.”
What were Amy Winehouse’s last words?
Amy Winehouse spent time with her mother the day before her death. Janis told what she told her daughter in an 2014 appearance on the British TV show, Lorraine. “Thank God I said, on that day, ‘I love you, Amy,’ ” she said. “And she said to me, ‘I love you, Mummy.’”
The night before her death, her bodyguard Andrew Morris recalled that she was watching YouTube videos of her past performances until 2 a.m. and he could hear her “laughing, listening to music and watching TV” in her room. She told him that she “would give it back just to walk down the street with no hassle.”
When it was 10 a.m. in the morning, Andrew found that “it was still quiet, which seemed strange” so he checked on her again. “She was in the same position as in the morning. I checked her pulse but I couldn’t find one.” After paramedics confirmed she was dead, he said he was “upset and shaken, she’s like a sister to me”.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available. Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support.
