Rik Mayall's widow reveals star suffered an 'acute cardiac event' after a run

(Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Rik Mayall suffered an 'acute cardiac event' after returning from a morning run, his widow has said.

Barbara Mayall (pictured) said her family had received 'thousands and thousands of messages of condolence' from around the world.

She said: "We always knew that Rik was well loved, but we are all overwhelmed by so many joining us in our grief.

"We now know that our darling Rik suffered an 'acute cardiac event' at our home around midday on June 9th.

"He had just returned from his usual run and many people had seen him that morning."

Mrs Mayall thanked the press 'for their discretion' and 'all the wonderful coverage', adding: "It would have made him very happy."

She added: "I am sure that you all know Rik's response would be something along the lines of.....' well thanks very much all of you.............now f*** off!!!'"

A post-mortem into the comedian's death was inconclusive, West London Coroner's Court has said.

More tests will now be carried out in an attempt to determine how the 56-year-old star died.

Rik, who shot to fame playing poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones, was found dead at his London home on June 9.

His career, which also included roles such as Lord Flashheart in Blackadder and the conniving Conservative MP Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman, stretched back to the start of the alternative comedy scene.

 

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.