Newscaster Tim Russert's sudden death has been explained via a statement of autopsy findings from Dr. Michael Newman.
Russert, age 58, was known to have asymptomatic coronary artery disease which resulted in hardening of his coronary arteries," Newman said. "The autopsy revealed an enlarged heart and significant atherosclerosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery with [a] fresh clot which caused a heart attack resulting in a fatal ventricular arrhythmia."
In layman terms, the "Meet the Press" newsman had a heart attack and could not be resuscitated. Newman said lifesaving measures were taken immediately after Russert's collapse, and a full code was initiated after the D.C. paramedics arrived. Newman added that there is only a 4 to 5 percent survival rate in cases of sudden cardiac arrest such as Russert's.
