She’s the half-sister of the Michael Hutchence, who claims to have had a ‘close’ relationship with the late singer.
And ahead of the 20th anniversary of his untimely death, Tina Hutchence has opened up about what she believes really caused his passing.
On Thursday, the 70-year-old California resident told WHO that Michael’s death was the result of ‘a split-second decision’ that stemmed from ‘anger and frustration.’
Speaking out: Ahead of the 20th anniversary of Michael Hutchence’s untimely death, his half-sister Tina has opened up about what she believes really caused his passing
‘I learned of Michael’s death in a phone call from our younger brother, Rhett, at the same time as it was being reported over CNN,’ she said.
‘I firmly believe Michael’s death was a split-second decision made out of anger and frustration.
She added: ‘I do believe the coroner Derek Hand’s findings, though it is a lot more complex than this.’
What really happened? The 70-year-old told WHO on Thursday that Michael’s death was the result of ‘a split-second decision’ that stemmed from ‘anger and frustration’
The late INXS star was found dead in a hotel room at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay on 22 November 1997 – he was 37.
NSW State Coroner Derrick Hand, who presided over the inquest into his death, previously confirmed he died from suffocation caused by hanging.
Mr. Hand previously said: ‘On consideration of the entirety of the evidence I am satisfied Hutchence was in a severe depressed state on the morning of 22 November 1997.’
Tragic: The late INXS star was found dead in a hotel room at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Sydney’s Double Bay on 22 November 1997 – he was 37
‘This was due to a number of factors, including the relationship with Paula Yates and the pressure of the ongoing dispute with Sir Robert Geldof, combined with the effects of the substances that he had ingested at that time.
‘I am satisfied the cause of death was hanging. I am also satisfied there was no other person involved in causing the death.’
It comes after Tina recently described her late brother’s mental state leading up to his death to Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa.
Gone: The NSW State Coroner Derrick Hand, who presided over the inquest into his death, previously confirmed he died from suffocation caused by hanging. He previously said: ‘On consideration of the entirety of the evidence I am satisfied Hutchence was in a severe depressed state on the morning of 22 November 1997.’ Pictured: Michael and Paula Yates
Radio hosts Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli asked Tina if she sensed anything wrong with Michael.
She reflected on the brain injury he had sustained during a night out in Denmark in 1992, with then girlfriend Helena Christensen.
The pop star was punched by a taxi driver and fell to the pavement, fracturing his skull, which resulted in him permanently losing his sense of taste and smell.
Troubled: ‘This was due to a number of factors, including the relationship with Paula Yates and the pressure of the ongoing dispute with Sir Robert Geldof, combined with the effects of the substances that he had ingested at that time,’ Mr. Hand said
‘Michael had been in pretty bad shape for over a year,’ she explained of the singer’s mental state in the lead up to his demise.
‘He was on anti-depressants. There were a number of things, not the least of which was the traumatic brain injury he’d [earlier] sustained.
‘In the Nineties, nobody knew much about a TBI. Now if somebody gets hit on the football field, they expel them right away.
‘With large sound, a lot of people, crowded places, most people with a TBI cannot handle that. Well, that was Michael’s business,’ she described.
Sad end: ‘I am satisfied the cause of death was ‘hanging. I am also satisfied there was no other person involved in causing the death’
Tina also shared that her brother had called her the night before he flew back to Australia for the band’s next tour stop and said ‘he was not anxious to go.’
‘He really didn’t want to go. I knew the whole tour had been tough on him. Actually it was probably the first time, that last year, often when I spoke to him he would dissolve into tears,’ she stated.
‘That was so not Michael. The pressures around him were just too much; he really needed a break. The British tabloid world was shocking, just vicious. Michael was a lover, not a warrior. It was very hard on him,’ she added.
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