Lilo & Stitch's David Hekili Kenui Bell's Cause of Death: New Details
New information is being uncovered about David Hekili Kenui Bell's tragic death.
Two months after the Lilo & Stitch actor passed away at age 46, the Hawaii Police Department released details about how he died in an autopsy report obtained by People Aug. 19.
The report determined that David had four "pathological diagnoses" at the time of his passing: morbid obesity and acute respiratory failure, as well as sepsis—a life-threatening condition that happens when the body responds poorly to an infection—and hypertensive/atherosclerotic heart disease, which occurs when fats, cholesterol and other substances buildup in the artery walls and burst or cause a blood cot, according to The Cleveland Clinic.
While the report did not state his exact cause of death or manner of death, the Hawaii Police Department said in the document that David "complained of difficulty breathing" before his untimely death and that multiple medical intervention efforts were made consistent with resuscitation attempts when he died, per the outlet.
Additionally, a toxicology test included in the report stated that there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol above the legal limit in David's system at the time.
No foul play is suspected, and the Hawaii Police Department told People Aug. 19 that the investigation into David's death has now been completed.
David's family first shared the heartbreaking news of his passing on June 16, when his sister Jalene Kanani Bell shared a moving tribute to the late actor.
"It is with a heavy heart I share that my sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant and handsome little brother David H. K. Bell will spend today in the company of our Heavenly Father," she wrote on Facebook at the time. "I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives."
Jalene went on to reflect on how much Bell loved "being an actor," detailing a memory of him buying tickets for his whole family to go see him when he "made it to the big screen" in the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake with his part as Big Hawaiian Dude.
"He planned ahead and purchased the best seats in the house for us all to go together to opening night in Kapolei just two short weeks ago," she said of Bell, who has also appeared in shows like Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0. "We talked about and were so energized by the fans dressed in L&S gear head to toe, t-shirts, onezees, hats, mask, and the merch galore flying off the shelf as we stood in line for pop-corn."
Recalling that they came back home afterward and were just "sitting on my living room couch talking story about life, having a seltzer and doing a little genealogy," Jalene added, "Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, I will keep our memories alive."
In addition to Jalene, David is survived by his aunt Gerry, and his sisters Kehau Bell and Lara Leimana.
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