At the age of 53, Maurice collapsed at his home in Miami, Florida, before he was sent off to Mount Sinai Medical Center.
The Stayin’ Alive singer died because a condition called ischemic enteropathy restricted the flow of blood to his bowel.
His family released a statement at the time, which said: “It is with great sadness and sorrow that we regretfully announce the passing of Maurice Gibb.
“His love and enthusiasm and energy for life remain an inspiration to all of us. We will all deeply miss him.”
The Mayo Clinic notes seven symptoms of intestinal ischemia:
- Sudden belly (abdominal) pain that may be mild, moderate or severe
- An urgent need to have a bowel movement
- Frequent, forceful bowel movements
- Abdominal tenderness or bloating (distention)
- Blood in your stool
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mental confusion in older adults.
It also advises: “Seek immediate medical care if you have sudden, severe abdominal pain. Pain that makes you so uncomfortable that you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position is a medical emergency.”
Dr. Jeffrey Raskin, interim chief of gastroenterology at the University of Miami medical school, told Billboard, a twisted bowel can cause an array of internal problems.
He said: “It can lead to a cardiovascular collapse and possibly could have contributed to the cardiac arrest.”
Cardiac arrest
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) explains: “A cardiac arrest is when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood around your body.
“Although it’s sometimes mistaken for a heart attack, a cardiac arrest is different.”
A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that can suddenly occur without warning.
Should a cardiac arrest occur, the person will:
- Collapse suddenly
- Be unconscious
- Be unresponsive
- Not be breathing.
If the person is breathing, they will not be breathing normally, which means they might be making gasping noises.
“Without immediate treatment, the person will die,” the BHF warns. “If you see someone having a cardiac arrest, phone 999 immediately and start CPR.”
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust said there are three reasons why a person would suffer from a cardiac arrest.
The first could be due to an advanced stage of a heart attack; the second might be due to choking; and the third is “trauma”.
“Someone who has been seriously wounded or injured in an accident may suffer a cardiac arrest because of the severity of the trauma,” the NHS Trust notes.
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