Featured Image Credit: American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images/ Bobby Bank/WireImage via Getty
Topics: Fitness, Police, Los Angeles, Cancer, Celebrity
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Fitness, Police, Los Angeles, Cancer, Celebrity
Richard Simmons' apparent cause of death has been revealed by officials.
Simmons died at the age of 76 after being found in his home by his housekeeper on Saturday, July 13.
Upon discovering an unresponsive Simmons the housekeeper called 911. The famous fitness guru was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
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Confirming his passing, Simmons' longtime publicist Tom Estey said: "The world has truly lost an angel."
While it's suspected that there was no foul play regarding Simmons' death, police have still launched an investigation into the 76-year-old's passing.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Fire Department has issued a statement on the matter and seemingly confirmed Simmons' cause of death.
"On July 13, 2024, at 9:55 AM, the LAFD responded to a Suspected Death Incident at the 1300 block of N Belfast Drive," LAFD Captain Erik Scott told ET.
"Upon arrival, one rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old male who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics due to apparent natural causes. As a result, no hospital transport was necessary."
While his cause of death appears to have been from natural causes, the Medical Examiner’s Office is yet to fully determine this.
Speaking to People, the office said that Simmons' cause of death has since been deferred. An investigation and additional testing is set to take place and it could take up to three months before a conclusion is reached.
UNILAD has approached the Medical Examiner's Officer for comment.
Simmons' passing comes after he announced earlier this year that he'd been diagnosed with skin cancer.
The well-loved fitness coach had noticed a blemish under one of his eyes and went to the doctor to have it checked out.
He was then referred to a cancer specialist who diagnosed Simmons with Basal Cell Carcinoma - a type of skin cancer that most often develops on areas of skin exposed to the sun.
Simmons penned on Facebook at the time: "[The doctor] explained that he has to burn my skin to remove the cancer cells. There was no numbing it just had to be done with a small instrument.
"As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek. You can’t cry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really hurt my skin. It lasted about 30 minutes. 'Come back in an hour and a half and see if I got it all out.'"
The doctor was unable to get it all out after the first attempt and Simmons had to undergo more cancer cell removal.
It's unclear if it was ever fully removed before his passing.