American-Canadian actor Matthew Perry was discovered submerged in his hot tub by his assistant, who desperately tried to lift his head above water for some much-needed air, as revealed by first responders.
However, when the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at the Pacific Palisades residence of the Friends star on Saturday and pulled him from the jacuzzi, it was too late; he had already passed away.
Captain Erik Scott, from the LAFD, reported, "Los Angeles City Firefighters responded and found an unconscious adult male in a standalone hot tub. A bystander had managed to bring the man's head above water and get him to the edge, at which point firefighters removed him from the water upon their arrival. Tragically, a swift medical assessment confirmed the man's passing before the arrival of the first responders. The circumstances are currently under investigation by LAPD and the LA County Medical Examiner. Our thoughts are with the families and friends who have unexpectedly lost a loved one."
Perry is believed to have drowned, although the official cause of death remains undetermined at this time.
The initial autopsy findings have been postponed, with toxicology reports pending. This delay follows the release of a 15-second emergency call recording in which Perry's assistant reported a cardiac arrest, indicating a drowning situation, known as an Emergency Medical Situation 9.
In this recording, a first responder can be heard saying, "Agent 23. Rescue 23. EMS 9 on the radio. Responding to the drowning."
The actor, best known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing in Friends, had openly discussed his struggles with opioids and alcohol but claimed to be clean in recent interviews.
First responders reportedly found antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications at the property, but no illegal drugs were discovered.
The Los Angeles County coroner has deferred listing Perry's cause of death, awaiting the final results of toxicology tests.
On Sunday afternoon, Perry's body was released to the family, though the cause of death is still pending determination.
The Medical Examiner's office can provide initial results within days, but final toxicology test results may take six to eight weeks.
Close friends of the family have mentioned that Perry appeared tired in his last days. His final Instagram post featured images of him in a pool, with the caption: "Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I'm Mattman."
In his memoir published last year, Perry disclosed that he had spent $9 million on his journey to sobriety, attending 6,000 AA meetings, going to rehab 15 times, and being in detox 65 times. He stated that he conquered addiction in 2021 and was believed to be leading a healthier lifestyle.
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