Skiing accident and death
On 16 March 2009, Richardson was injured in a skiing accident while in
Mont-Tremblant,
Quebec,
Canada. She was taken to
Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal after suffering a
traumatic brain injury.
[7] She was listed as being in critical condition,
[8] and her husband, Liam Neeson, was reported to have joined her after flying from
Toronto, where he was filming a movie.
[7] Richardson was flown on March 17 by private jet to
Lenox Hill Hospital in
Manhattan and visited by her sons, mother
Vanessa Redgrave, and sister
Joely Richardson.
[9] She died on 18 March 2009 at age 45.
[1] At approximately 7pm, New York time, Liam Neeson's publicist issued this statement to the press:
Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.[1]
Natasha Richardson Is Laid to Rest in Upstate New York
Family and friends of Natasha Richardson said their final goodbye to the star of stage and film during a funeral at St. Peter's Church in Millbrook, N.Y., on Sunday.
Under bright sun on a cold spring day, Richardson's husband Liam Neeson, their sons, Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12, her mother Vanessa Redgrave, her sister Joely Richardson and friends Uma Thurman, Ralph Fiennes and Mia Farrow arrived at St. Peter's Church at 2:30 p.m.
Neeson, looking somber in a dark suit and sunglasses, briefly posed for photographers with his family before walking to the hearse, where he was the first to put his hand on the mahogany casket, which he and six other pallbearers carried to the church.
The ceremony lasted a little more than an hour. As the funeral ended, the sky became overcast. Neeson and the family drove to a nearby cemetery, where the burial took place under a large green tent. There, a grieving Vanessa Redgrave gave a thumbs-up to the fans and reporters who had gathered.
Richardson was laid to rest in the same cemetery where her grandmother Rachel Redgrave, the mother of Vanessa Redgrave, and better known by her stage name Rachel Kempson, is buried. The two plots face each other.
After the burial service, Neeson joined Vanessa on a short walk to Rachel's grave, where they paid their respects to the Redgrave family matriarch. Lynn followed afterwards.
At 4:45 p.m., Neeson left the cemetery after his final goodbye.
Neeson shared a home nearby with his late wife, who
died after a ski accident that resulted in severe brain trauma.
