Charlbi Dean Kriek, a South African actress from “Triangle of Sadness”, died unexpectedly and suddenly in August at 32 years old. Her cause of death has just been confirmed by a coroner.
At the time of her death, her illness was not disclosed.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to People Magazine that she died of bacterial sepsis.
The spokesperson explained that it was “a complication from asplenia (the absence of a spleen) due to remote blunt trauma to her torso.”
Dean’s death was ruled an accident.
The bacterial sepsis was caused from a rare infection with a bacteria called Capnocytophaga. This type of bacteria, also found in the mouths of cats and dogs, is particularly harmful to people with autoimmune issues and without spleens.
It is not clear how Dean developed the infection, as the actress’ full autopsy is not public.
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A few days after she died, Dean’s brother Alex Jacobs told Rolling Stone that on the day of her death, she experienced minor symptoms. Her fiancé, Luke Volker, took her to the emergency room and she died just hours later.
“This happened literally within the span of a day: getting a headache, going to sleep, waking up her boyfriend and saying please take me to the hospital,” said Jacobs.
“We still aren’t entirely sure [what happened]. There’s an autopsy being done which we know might take quite a while. But what we have heard [is that] there was a viral infection in her lungs,” Jacobs said at the time.
He also explained that Dean was involved in a “very, very bad car accident” around 2009, which caused doctors to remove her spleen, along with suffering broken ribs and a broken back in the accident.
“[The spleen is] involved in fighting off infections, and that could have had something to do with what happened. Her spleen not being there just added on to the reason why she perhaps couldn’t fight it off,” Jacobs explained.
Volker mourned the death of his fiancé on Instagram, expressing appreciation for the messages he received after the news.
“Hi, everyone. I wanted to just post a picture of Charlbi, but it’s a bit hard. And just wanted to let you know I see all your messages, all the love, and I appreciate it. I really do. It’s just I can’t really reply to them right now. But thank you, guys. I appreciate it. I love you.”
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Triangle of Sadness writer and director Ruben Östlund, took to Instagram as well, saying it was “an honor to have gotten to know and work with her” before the tragedy.
“Charlbi had a care and sensitivity that lifted her colleagues and the entire film crew. The thought that she will not be by our side in the future makes me very sad. At this difficult time, my thoughts go out to her loved ones, her family and her fiancé Luke.”
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Feature Image: Christophe Simon / Getty
