Roger Ailes Cause Of Death: Former Fox News CEO Hit His Head In Accidental Fall Week Before He Died
Former Fox CEO Roger Ailes fell and hit his head in a fall about a week before his death at age 77, according to multiple reports. He hit his head in an accident that occurred on May 10 in the bathroom of his Palm Beach, Florida home and fell unconscious for many days after the fall. His condition took a turn for the worse when he fell into a coma on Wednesday evening and died over the night.
“We’re told Ailes fell unconscious and his condition went downhill. Our sources say he fell into a coma Wednesday and died Wednesday night,” TMZ reported.
A Palm Beach Police Department report that revealed Ailes, 77, hit his dead in a serous falling accident that occurred in his bathroom at his Florida home on Wednesday, May 10, eight days ago, according to NBC 26.
A caller told 911 dispatchers at about 1:49 p.m., moments after the accident happened, that Ailes was lying on the floor and bleeding seriously after he fell accidentally. He sustained an injury to the head and was not “completely alert,” the caller said.
“There is serious bleeding. The fall was accidental… He is not completely alert…The injury is to the head.”
Police reportedly rushed to the scene, arriving within minutes after the call.
Gabriel Sherman, an Ailes biographer and editor of New York Magazine, tweeted that a family friend said Ailes battled complications after suffering “some kind of blood clot.” The blood clot occurred after a fall in which he hit his head. He was unconscious for several days after the fall on May 10. He fell into a coma on Wednesday night and died over the night.
“Ailes fell in Palm Beach and had a blood clot from the fall. He suffered complications.”
Several days ago, Ailes called a friend and said, "Well, if you want to know if I'm suicidal the answer is no."
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Ailes was spending time apart from his wife in recent days. Elizabeth Ailes had been in Palm Beach, Ailes was alone up in Garrison NY
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Latest on what we know, per family friend: "Last week Ailes had some kind of blood clot in Palm Beach. Suffered complications."
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Ailes suffered whole life from hemophelia, had multiple surgeries and joint replacements.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Per 2nd family friend on cause of death: Ailes fell in Palm Beach and had a blood clot from the fall. He suffered complications.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Ailes death reverberating through the Fox News community. A longtime executive writes, "Such a sudden end to a complicated man."
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
He appeared to have remained upbeat in the weeks before the accident. According to Sherman, a friend said that Ailes called him “several days ago” to affirm that he was not suicidal.
“Several days ago, Ailes called a friend and said, ‘Well, if you want to know if I’m suicidal the answer is no,'” Sherman tweeted. “Ailes suffered his whole life from hemophilia, had multiple surgeries and joint replacements.”
His wife, Elizabeth, an NBC News veteran with a B.S. in Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University, announced her husband’s passing in a statement to Drudge Report early on May 18, 2017.
“I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning. Roger was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many.”
Early on Thursday morning, Matt Drudge, founder of the conservative site Drudge Report, tweeted the news of Aile’s death with a photo.
Fox News also confirmed his death on Thursday morning.
Ailes, who was born in May of 1940, in Warren, Ohio, had suffered from hemophilia most of his life. Hemophilia is a condition that impairs the ability of the blood to clot. Thus, hemophiliacs are prone to excessive bleeding even from minor injuries.
Ailes also suffered from other health issues and had undergone multiple surgeries, including joint replacements.
He worked with several Republican presidential candidates including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, before starting Fox News in 1996. He built Fox News into one of the country’s most highly rated cable news networks.
Fox News under Ailes launched the careers of prominent names in the industry, such Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Megyn Kelly and Greta Van Susteren.
More details on Roger Ailes's death: without identifying him, the police said a man fell in Mr. Ailes's home: https://t.co/eaAZCAIED9
— NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) May 18, 2017
His successful career ended amid sexual harassment allegations. In September of 2016, Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. Several other female Fox News employees, including Megyn Kelly, followed with accusations of their own.
He was forced to resign from his position at Fox News, reportedly with a $40 million payout.
Gretchen Carlson eventually walked away with a $20 million settlement.
Ailes was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and son, Zachary.
[Featured Image by Drew Angerer/Getty Images]
