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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jamie Roberts

Country singer Luke Bell died aged 32 from accidental fentanyl overdose, authorities say

Authorities have determined via an autopsy report that Luke Bell died due to an accidental fentanyl overdose.

The Country singer died last month at the age of 32. He was reported missing and was found unresponsive over a week later in Tucson, Arizona.

Officials told ABC 9 KGUN Tucson at the time that Luke was "reportedly found unresponsive by a passerby in a shaded area of a parking structure" and died on August 26 with drug paraphernalia nearby.

He was reported to be battling arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to The US Sun, and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.076 at the time of his death.

The sad news of his passing was first confirmed by his friend and fellow musician Matt Kinman. In a blog post for Saving Country Music he wrote: "We came down here to Arizona, to work down here, play some music, and he just took off.

"He was in the back of the truck. I went in to get something to eat. I came out, and he’d got out of the truck and left."

Authorities have revealed the cause of Luke Bell's death (Getty Images North America)

Speaking to TMZ in the days following his passing, Luke's manager Brian Buchanan said: "Luke fought this as hard as he could, but the disease got the better of him. When he was beating the disease, he was the sweetest and most generous guy. He's found peace now and there's some comfort."

And his family also released a statement at the time, saying: "Luke had a gentle heart, a wanderer’s spirit and a musical gift that he was fortunate to share with us and the world. We are so grateful to his friends and fans for embracing Luke and his music.

Luke Bell died in August (Getty Images North America)

"We would like to thank all of Luke’s fans, friends and family who have been sharing stories and photos of happy times with him. Unfortunately Luke suffered from the disease of mental illness, which progressed after his father's death in 2015. Luke was supported through his disease by a community of loving family and friends. Despite this, he was unable to receive the help he needed to ease his pain."

They concluded: "Our hearts go out to the millions of people affected by mental illness who, like us, understand the devastating disappointment of a system that consistently fails to provide caring solutions to those who suffer."

*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch

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