Earlier this year, Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho died at the age of 41. Now, his cause of death has been revealed.
Laiho's estranged wife Kimberley Goss, to whom he was still legally married, confirmed the results of the autopsy on her Instagram page.
"This morning I received the final forensic report with the official cause of Alexi's passing," she wrote. "As his legal widow, I am privy to this information. The certificate reads in Finnish, 'Alkoholin aiheuttama maksan rasvarappeutuminen ja haiman sidekudostuminen.' The English translation is, 'Alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue.' Furthermore, he had a cocktail of painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in his system."
She concluded her lengthy tribute with a call to action. Calling Laiho's death "entirely preventable," she added, "Please do not surround yourself with enablers who promote your addictions. Let this be a cautionary tale that no one is invincible.
"I do not want his death to be in vain. My hope is to eventually start a memorial foundation or charity in his native, Finland to help others struggling with these same demons. This needs to be an open conversation, not a source of shame. We are all human, we all suffer, but help is out there. If his story can save even ONE life, then something good can come out of this horrible loss we have all endured."
Read the full statement below.
Laiho's estranged wife Kimberley Goss, to whom he was still legally married, confirmed the results of the autopsy on her Instagram page.
"This morning I received the final forensic report with the official cause of Alexi's passing," she wrote. "As his legal widow, I am privy to this information. The certificate reads in Finnish, 'Alkoholin aiheuttama maksan rasvarappeutuminen ja haiman sidekudostuminen.' The English translation is, 'Alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue.' Furthermore, he had a cocktail of painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in his system."
She concluded her lengthy tribute with a call to action. Calling Laiho's death "entirely preventable," she added, "Please do not surround yourself with enablers who promote your addictions. Let this be a cautionary tale that no one is invincible.
"I do not want his death to be in vain. My hope is to eventually start a memorial foundation or charity in his native, Finland to help others struggling with these same demons. This needs to be an open conversation, not a source of shame. We are all human, we all suffer, but help is out there. If his story can save even ONE life, then something good can come out of this horrible loss we have all endured."
Read the full statement below.