Heath Ledger autopsy inconclusive

Jan 24, 2008, 7:35 GMT

Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger - 78th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals - Kodak Theater - Hollywood, CA © Solarpix / Photorazzi

Heath Ledger's initial autopsy results are inconclusive.

The 28-year-old Australian actor was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday afternoon (22.01.08) with sleeping pills scattered his naked body, but the New York City Medical Examiner's Office have been unable to confirm whether his death was drug related.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the office, said: "It will take about 10 days to complete the investigation."

Michael Baden, a prominent forensic pathologist, added: "It's important to determine if this is a natural death or if it was a drug overdose. There are other natural things that cause death in young people in their 20s, like the rupture of an aneurysm around the brain or heart disease or pneumonia.

"If there's no natural cause of death then it becomes more likely that it's a drug overdose. That will depend on toxicology and that may take a few days to a few weeks."

Meanwhile, Heath's former fiancée Michelle Williams has flown back to the US following his tragic death.

The actress - who has a two-year-old daughter, Matilda, with the late actor - boarded a plane from Sweden, where she is currently filming, to New York after being told the shocking news.

Michelle - who split from Heath last September - was "devastated" when she discovered her former love had passed away.

A friend of the former 'Dawson's Creek' star said: "She's devastated. I can't believe Matilda is going to grow up without a dad, without knowing her father. Michelle will have to deal with having a daughter who has lost her father.

"She's a survivor. She'll make it, but it's going to be hard. Her first concern is going to be Matilda."

Michelle and Heath met on the set of 'Brokeback Mountain' and the actress soon fell pregnant with Matilda, who was born in October 2005.

Michelle called time on their romance last year and sources say Heath never got over the split.

Michelle's father, Larry, has paid tribute to Heath saying what a wonderful person he was.

He said: "I think Tennyson got it right in the poem when he described someone as having died at a young age but burning the candles at both ends, and oh what a beautiful flame he made, that was Heath, what a beautiful flame he made and a great talent.

My heart goes out to everyone in his family and my family. The saddest thing is his daughter whom he loved dearly."

(C) BANG Media International