The Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson‘s cause of death has been confirmed – find out more below.
Wilson’s passing was confirmed by his family on June 11 – he was 82. His children wrote at the time: “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”
According to Wilson’s death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Health – first obtained by TMZ – the singer’s primary cause of death was listed as “respiratory arrest,” with sepsis and cystitis listed as contributing factors.
Per the ACLS Medical Training site, respiratory arrest is described as “a state in which a patient stops breathing but maintains a pulse”. It can also occur at the same time as a cardiac arrest, though not always.
In addition to Brian Wilson’s respiratory arrest, sepsis, and cystitis, the autopsy found that the Beach Boys singer also suffered from a number of other health issues including obstructive sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory failure and neurodegenerative disorder.
In February 2024, Wilson’s family revealed that the singer was suffering from dementia, and he was placed in a conservatorship in May that year.
The surviving members of The Beach Boys paid their respects to Wilson in a joint message, saying that he “was the soul of our sound”. His cousin and former bandmate Mike Love said “the world lost a genius”, with Al Jardine writing: “I will always feel blessed that you were in our lives for as long as you were.”
Other tributes have come from the likes of Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, Nancy Sinatra, Sting, and many more from the music world and beyond.
In the wake of Wilson’s death, fans have been sharing footage of his final-ever live performance from 2022.
