What was the cause of Hekili Kenui Bell's death? New autopsy reveals new details

Actor Hekili Kenui Bell, who passed away two months back on June 12, has now been revealed to have died from a combination of factors, including respiratory failure. According to People Magazine, the autopsy report, which was recently made public by the Hawaii police department, stated that Bell had allegedly "complained of difficulty breathing" in the hours before his death.

Hekili Kenui Bell rose to fame with his role as the "big Hawaiian dude" in the much-anticipated Disney movie, "Lilo & Stitch," which was released earlier this year in May. Apart from his short yet memorable role in "Lilo & Stitch," Bell had appeared in shows like "Hawaii Five-0" and "Magnum P.I.," and he was known for being the brand ambassador for Kona Brewing Company, having been featured in several of their commercials over the years.

More about Hekili Kenui Bell's cause of death

The newly released details regarding Hekili Kenui Bell's death cite "pathological diagnosis" as one of the contributing factors. According to People Magazine, Bell, who was forty-six years old at the time of his passing, was suffering from sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body has been exposed to some type of infection. According to the Cleveland Clinic, sepsis in itself can cause organ damage, and without urgent proper treatment, it can be fatal.

In addition to sepsis, Hekili Kenui Bell was also suffering from edema, hypertensive/atherosclerotic heart disease, and morbid obesity. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hypersensitive heart disease arises when high blood pressure goes untreated, and it can eventually lead to heart failure.

Back in June, Hekili Kenui Bell's death was confirmed by his sister, who shared a heartfelt statement on Facebook. She wrote:

"It is with a heavy heart I share that my sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant and handsome little brother David H. K. Bell will spend today in the company of our Heavenly Father. I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives."

Hekili Kenui Bell was also suffering from statis dermatitis, a condition affecting the lower legs of a person, leading to poor blood circulation. The condition can also cause itching and discoloration. Moreover, according to the autopsy report, several life-saving procedures were conducted by the emergency services to resuscitate Bell.

At the time of his death in June, Hawaiian police had confirmed that they had launched an investigation to determine the cause of Bell's death, adding that no foul play was suspected. They said:

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"We have launched a coroner’s inquest investigation (as is standard practice) and an autopsy is being scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. The investigation is ongoing at this time. No foul play is suspected."

According to the Hawaii Tribune Herald, a memorial service was held for Hekili Kenui Bell earlier this month, on August 9, at the Annunciation Catholic Church.

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