Natasha Richardson Is Dead

I didn't know who she was, but it's really not important who she is.

What is important is the story. Richardson died after falling and hitting her head on a ski slope in Canada. She was on a bunny slope, fell and hit her head and was carried back to the ski lodge.






This one hits close to home because the same thing happened to my wife (who's fate, it turns out, was much more fortunate than Natasha's). On the level surface right near the ski lift, my wife fell directly on her head and had to be carried on a stretcher to the first aid station...she had a concussion but after a few hours she was okay.

Not so for Richardson.

It is sad that in such a place as Canada, in the province of Quebec, that they don't have a modern MEDEVAC capability. If they had, she might still be alive.

Doctor: Lack of medical helicopter cost actress

NEW YORK – As a steady stream of celebrities pay their last respects to Natasha Richardson, questions are arising over whether a medical helicopter might have been able to save the ailing actress.

The province of Quebec lacks a medical helicopter system, common in the United States and other parts of Canada, to airlift stricken patients to major trauma centers. Montreal's top head trauma doctor said Friday that may have played a role in Richardson's death.

We here in the States, despite all of our problems, don't know how good we have it.