Lilo & Stitch actor David Hekili Kenui Bell’s cause of death has been revealed.
The 46-year-old actor tragically died just weeks after he made his big screen debut in Disney's live-action movie, which was released on May 23.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed in a lengthy Facebook post by Bell's sister, Jalene Kanani, who shared a deeply personal and lengthy post honoring her brother’s life.
"I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives," she wrote.
The bereaved sister opened up about her late brother's love of acting, saying: "David loved being an actor, doing voiceovers, spending time with Brutus, traveling as an ambassador for Kona Brew. The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him, and I loved that he enjoyed the arts."
Kanani also revealed how much his heritage contributed to his talent, saying he moved to Hawaii, where his “ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge, and Pidgen to da max…made him a diamond in the rough.”
She then spoke about his role in Lilo & Stitch and how the family went to watch the film together on opening night, and were "so energized by the fans dressed in L&S gear head to toe, t-shirts, onezees, hats, mask, and the merch galore flying off the shelf as we stood in line for pop-corn".
She ended her tribute poster with a reminder to cherish time with loved ones before it's too late: "Hug your loved ones today… our last time together after returning home from the movie was just sitting on my living room couch talking story about life, having a seltzer, and doing a little genealogy.
"Blessed by this and all the big and small moments, I will keep our memories alive," she added.
An autopsy was reportedly issued by the Hawaii Police Department a week after Bell’s passing, though the results weren't completed until July 10.
According to PEOPLE, the report lists four "pathological diagnoses" among its findings: acute respiratory failure, sepsis, hypertensive/atherosclerotic heart disease, and morbid obesity.
Per Mayo Clinic, Atherosclerosis is the "buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls," also known as plaque, which can "cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow" or burst, "leading to a blood clot".
The autopsy also confirmed that medical resuscitation efforts had been made, as indicated by the presence of defibrillator (AED) pads on Bell’s chest, an airway inserted into his mouth, a blood pressure cuff on his right arm, an IV line in his left arm, and an intraosseous needle in his left lower leg.
As reported by the NIH, the intraosseous needle is used for delivering fluids, medications, or obtaining lab samples when intravenous access is not possible.
Further findings disclosed that Bell had stasis dermatitis (a skin condition linked to poor circulation in the legs) and edema (swelling in the lower limbs due to fluid retention).
In addition to this, the toxicology report revealed no drugs or alcohol in Bell’s system above detectable levels. The report also noted that Bell "complained of difficulty breathing" before his death.
A funeral service for Bell, who appeared in the remakes of the Hawaii-set shows Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., was held on August 9 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea.
Our thoughts continue to be with his friends and family.