ET confirms that ANNA NICOLE SMITH died this afternoon at a Florida hospital after she was found unresponsive in her hotel room. She was 39. Upon hearing of her passing, Anna Nicole’s sister, DONNA HOGAN, released the following statement to ET: "On behalf of the Hogan Family, we are saddened and heartbroken by my sister’s death. No matter what our differences have been over the years, Anna was still our blood and she will be missed terribly. She was a woman who was determined to get out of her small town in Texas and make a name for herself. "She became an international star and she was a good mother to DANIEL; there is no doubt that her son loved her. They lived out of each other’s pockets while he was alive and now they can finally be together again in Heaven. "We feel that the death of her son left her deeply saddened, a sadness she hid from everyone. As a mother of three children, I am anguished by this tragic event and the fact that her new baby daughter DANNIELYNN HOPE is now without a mother." Just moments ago, MSNBC filmed Anna Nicole’s body being transported to a separate part of the hospital. It is presumed that she’s been moved to the medical examiner’s office to determine the exact cause of death. An autopsy is confirmed for Friday. The actress and TRIMSPA spokesperson was staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, where she checked in on Monday. Sources tell ET that Anna Nicole was suffering from flu-like symptoms upon her arrival on Monday, but her fever had broken by Wednesday. That afternoon, she fell in the bathroom and hit her head. She said she was feeling fine, had a meal and went back to bed. Today, she retired to her bedroom to take a nap. When she did not wake after a few hours, she was checked on and found unresponsive. Her eyes were also dilated. Florida authorities held a press conference this afternoon to confirm the details of her death.
At 1:38 p.m. Eastern time today, a female private nurse in the sixth-floor hotel room with Anna Nicole called the hotel front desk operator, who has 911 access, for help. Only the nurse was in the room with Anna Nicole at this time. It is not known why a private nurse was with her.
At 1:45 p.m., a bodyguard arrived in the room and administered CPR to Anna Nicole. When the emergency response team arrived, they found Anna Nicole unconscious and unresponsive. She was then rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital, about three blocks away from the hotel.
At 2:49 p.m., Anna Nicole was pronounced dead. The cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner. Investigators are currently processing the scene of the incident. The incident is not being treated as a crime. Her partner, HOWARD K. STERN, traveled to Florida with her, but was not present at the time. ALEX GOEN, CEO and founder of TRIMSPA, released this statement today concerning Anna’s tragic death: "Today, Anna Nicole Smith’s grief-stricken and tumultuous personal life came to an end. Anna came to our Company as a customer, but she departs it as a friend. While life for Anna Nicole was not easy these past few months, she held dear her husband, Howard K. Stern, her daughter, Dannielynn Hope, her most cherished friends, beloved dogs, and finally, her work with TRIMSPA. "Anna knew both the joy of giving life, and the heartache of losing a child. We pray that she is granted the peace that eluded her more recent days on earth, and that she find comfort in the presence of her son, Daniel."
Entertainment Tonight (story) and WSVN (photo)
WSVN is reporting that the will start performing tomorrow at 9a.
