Reports Delayed.
December 30th, 2010 by sampaterson | Filed under News.
As reported by the Daily Telegraph.
THE Tarrant County Medical Examiner will not release an autopsy report on world champion surfer Philip “Andy” Irons for at least six months, after his widow argued in a court filing that the report could tarnish her husband’s “brand”.
Judge Melody Wilkinson approved a December 21 petition for temporary injunction relief in which Irons’ wife cited the “intense news frenzy” and “innuendo of drug use” surrounding her husband’s death.
By delaying the report’s release, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could complete research into Irons’ death and make the report more accurate, the petition stated.
Irons, 32, died on November 2 in his room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Dallas Fort Worth Airport during a layover. Irons’ family has said in news reports that Irons suffered from dengue fever, a virus that is spread by mosquitoes in tropical areas.
However, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has reported that, according to the medical examiner’s office, methadone – a powerful controlled substance taken for pain – was found in Irons’ room, along with other prescription medications.
Authorities said at the time that there was no evidence of foul play and that toxicology tests would be performed.
Iron’s wife Lyndie and their newborn son are dependent on the financial well-being of a company established “by the celebrity of Andy Irons,” the petition said.
“Should the autopsy report be released now, Lyndie Irons and her newborn child would suffer immediate and irrevocable harm in that the branding value would be greatly diminished as a result of the news frenzy,” the petition states.
“It is anticipated that if the autopsy report is not released for six months, news coverage will die down.”
The medical examiner’s office did not contest the request, said Ashley Fourt, a Tarrant County assistant district attorney who represents the medical examiner’s office. Under the order, the report could not be released until May 20.
Fourt added that medical examiner Dr Nizam Peerwani has not yet ruled on a cause and manner of death, so there is currently not a completed autopsy report to release.
“(Peerwani) is still awaiting some test results and until all the test results are in, he will not make a ruling,” Fourt said.
The petition stated that for the medical examiner to release the autopsy report before the Centers for Disease Control completes its research would not “meet the good faith requirements that we, as a society, expect from our government officials.”
Lindy and Andy Jr’s well being should be the only thing on people’s minds. Andy, unfortunately, is gone and nothing will bring him back. What he did in his personal time is just that, personal and should be respected. It is no one’s business the results of the toxicology exams. Please, let him be remembered for the amazing surfer he was and leave his family alone. My heart and prayers are with you Irons family; may God bless you all and help people to have the conscience and heart to be respectful.
Peace, Daniela DeBerge
i totally agree with daniela rest in peace AI
Stuff me,i cant believe some people want to still do detective work to see how andy passed away,what difference will it make to anyone anyway?
I wish they would just stop the crap and leave it,the guy was a KING in the sport of surfing and thats all we have to know,no matter what they find i will always love the kid and wont make any difference to me or my family,LET HIS FAMILY LIVE IN PEACE AND HAPPINESS AND TO REMEMBER WHAT A GREAT MAN HE WAS,AND LET HIM LAY IN DECENCY AND RESPECT,SHAME ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY FOR ANY INFORMATION ON THE RESULTS,GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES AND LEAVE THE IRONS LEGEND ALONE.
ask rasta’s mum! she told me.
…..
drugs.
Bosko you are a hypocrite. “Same on the people who are hungry for any information on the results”. You must have read the article in the interest of the results, douche.
Damian, actually I read it on this website, I usually browse on this website to see what boys have been writing, so before you go accusing someone and then calling them a douche get your facts rights,I would not have a clue where any reports were written and do not seek them,and a lot of the people that know me know what my stance is on this.
Yes,but as a public figure people are interested in the cause of death. A lot of people see this as Billabong doing damage control. Keeping the reports delayed so obtain their clean image. If there is nothing to hide why keep the reports secret? Andy was great and one of my hero’s but when you step into the spotlight you have to expect public interest into your personal life. You really should be shaming Waves for publishing such stories, not the public.
[...] been nearly six months since the initial delay of Any Irons’ autopsy results. Now, with the results due to be made public tomorrow, the [...]