The cause of death of Russell Norman – award-winning restauranteur and TV star – has been confirmed.
The Saturday Kitchen star, 57, died on November 23 weeks after the launch of his fourth cookbook, Brutto.
Today (February 10), an inquest confirmed that the chef died by suicide after a drunken argument with his girlfriend, Dr Genevieve Verdigel.
Russell Norman cause of death: ‘I was trying to do CPR’
The inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone heard he had twice the amount of alcohol in his system than the legal drink-drive limit. A conclusion of suicide by hanging was recorded.
The chef had gone into the garden of his home in Pluckley, Kent, after arguing with his art historian girlfriend. She tragically found him lying unconscious and tried to save him. In a statement read by Coroner Katrina Hepburn, Dr Verdigel said: “I ran back inside to call 999. I was trying to do CPR. I was screaming and the people next door came round.”
When paramedics arrived, a pulse was detected and Russell was rushed to hospital in nearby Ashford.
However, doctors revealed he had suffered brain damage and placed him on end-of-life care. He died in hospital, five days later, on November 23.
His inquest heard he had been displaying “suicidal tendencies” before his death. The cause of death was given as a brain injury caused by hanging.
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Russell Norman’s girlfriend breaks silence
After the verdict was returned, Dr Verdigel posted a statement, along with a picture of the couple in happier times, on Instagram.
She said: “When all is said and done, what you come to realise are the most important words are those that remain, and will remain, a conversation between two people and to which the rest of the world will never be privy.
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