Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie's cause of death revealed after singer passed away aged 79 | The Sun
CHRISTINE McVie died of a massive stroke and cancer, it has been revealed.
The Fleetwood Mac star passed away aged 79 from an "ischaemic stroke" in November last year while in hospital.
Her death certificate has been seen for the first time by The Blast.
The star – who wrote hits including Little Lies, Everywhere and Don't Stop – was diagnosed with "metastatic malignancy of unknown primary origin".
It means cancer had spread in her body but doctors couldn't tell where it started.
Last year her family's statement read: "It is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine's death.
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"We would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally".
Christine's death certificate was sent to court in a bundle of files to settle her £40million ($50million) estate.
Her brother and his children are the sole heirs, they reveal, and several charities are also included.
BLOOD CLOT
Christine's stroke was caused by a blood clot blocking an artery that lead to the brain.
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The certificate also revealed she was suffering from her heart beating irregularly.
Rock band Fleetwood Mac, founded in London in 1967, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful groups ever.
Their best-known songs include Dreams, Go Your Own Way and Everywhere.
Christine's devastated bandmates described her as "one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure" in a heartbreaking tribute.
A statement from Fleetwood Mac said on Twitter: "There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie.
"She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.
"We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed."
Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks described Christine as her "best friend in the whole world".
She said she had not known Christine was ill until four days before her death, and had wanted to visit her in London.
She wrote on Instagram: "A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away.
"I didn't even know she was ill … until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London, I wanted to get to London – but we were told to wait.
"So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so I'm singing it to her now.
"I always knew I would need these words one day…It's all I can do now."
'I MISS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU'
Mick Fleetwood also paid tribute to his late bandmate, saying "part of my heart has flown away".
He wrote on Twitter: "This is a day where my dear sweet Friend Christine McVie has taken to flight and left us earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that 'song bird,' reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us.
"Part of my heart has flown away today.. I will miss everything about you Christine McVie.
"Memories abound.. they fly to me."
Despite its tumultuous history, Fleetwood Mac became one of the famed rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, comprising of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, as well as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
Over three decades, Christine was part of the Fleetwood Mac circus – a rollercoaster ride of dizzying highs and crashing lows before she quit and retreated to the Kent countryside.
Christine, born Christine Perfect in Bouth, Lancashire, had been playing the piano since childhood but set aside her classical training once she heard early rock records by Fats Domino and others.
While studying at the Moseley School of Art, she befriended various members of Britain's emerging blues scene and, in her 20s, joined the band Chicken Shack as a singer and piano player.
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Among the rival bands she admired was Fleetwood Mac, which then featured the talents of blues guitarist Peter Green along with the rhythm section of Fleetwood and McVie.
She joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 as the keyboardist after marrying John McVie and contributing to the backup vocals on Kiln House.
What causes a stroke and what are the main symptoms to look out for?
A STROKE is a life-threatening emergency that can leave sufferers with long-term health complications.
Over 100,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK and they're responsible for over 38,000 deaths.
Meanwhile, there are 1.3 million people living in the UK who have survived a stroke – many living with disabilities.
Here we explain everything you need to know about the condition.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a life-threatening brain attack, which occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off – without blood, the cells in your brain can be killed or suffer damage.
It can have different effects depending on where in the brain this damage occurs.
It can change how you think and feel, and cause speech problems or a weakness on one side.
For some, the effects of a stroke can be relatively minor and will fade quickly, but others can be left with problems that leave them dependent on other people.
Around one in eight people who suffer a stroke die within 30 days, so it is vital to get medical assistance as soon as possible – the sooner somebody is treated, the more likely they are to survive.
Are there different types of strokes?
There are two main types of stroke.
An ischaemic stroke is the most common, accounting for 85 per cent of all cases, and is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain.
A haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain, when a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.
What are the symptoms?
The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke:
F = Face drooping – if one side of a person's face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it's uneven then you should seek help.
A = Arm weakness – if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help
S = Speech difficulty – if a person's speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 – if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.
Other symptoms include:
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- difficulty finding words
- sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
- sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
- a sudden and severe headache
- difficulty understanding what others are saying
- difficulty swallowing
If any of these symptoms occur for less than a few hours, you could be suffering from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
This attack, which is sometimes known as a "mini-stroke", indicates that there is a problem with the blood supply to your brain.
It’s important to contact your GP or local hospital if experiencing these symptoms, as they could increase your risk of stroke in the near future.
What are the causes of a stroke?
Ischaemic stroke, the most common form of the condition, occurs when a blood clot prevents the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. This is typically caused by arteries becoming narrower over time.
While arteries can narrow naturally with age, other factors, some of which are preventable, can accelerate the process:
- smoking
- obesity
- drinking too much alcohol
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol levels
- having diabetes
The less common haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain, which is usually the result of high blood pressure.
Again, the factors which contribute to high blood pressure can often be prevented:
- being overweight or obese
- drinking too much alcohol
- smoking
- lack of exercise
- stress, which can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure
What treatments are there?
The NHS says that effective treatment of a stroke can prevent long-term disability and save lives.
Treatments depend on if a stroke has been caused by a blood clot or bleeding around the brain.
Andrew Marr suffered a stroke in 2013, paying thousands of pounds for a new treatment in Florida to rid himself of his leg brace.
The television presenter opted for an anti-inflammatory treatment, using anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) drug etanercept.
Other forms of stroke therapy includes "virtual physiotherapy" which has seen stroke patients regain the use of their paralysed arms.
Other drugs designed for rheumatoid arthritis have been found to potentially reverse the damage caused by a stroke.
The Stroke Association recently warned that patients faced a disability lottery depending on where they lived in accessing treatment.
In February 2018 it was revealed that researchers have developed a new stem-cell based treatment that reduces brain damage and accelerates the brain's natural healing tendencies.
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