The Mysterious Death of Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee at 32
Bruce Lee (1940-1973) was a legendary star of martial arts cinema and an icon of 20th-century pop culture. The actor successfully appealed to both Eastern and Western audiences through his films.
Bruce Lee passed away on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32. More than 50 years have passed, yet speculation about the cause of the legendary actor’s death continues to circulate.
Recently, doctors announced they had uncovered the mystery behind Bruce Lee’s death, stating that the martial artist died from drinking excessive amounts of water.
Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee suddenly passed away at the age of 32 in 1973Martial arts legend Bruce Lee suddenly passed away at the age of 32 in 1973 (Photo: SCMP).
The Latest Theory on the Actor’s Sudden Passing
According to New York Post, the martial artist and legendary actor died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32 due to cerebral edema. Today, doctors believe it was caused by drinking too much water.
“We hypothesize that kidney failure to excrete excess water led to Bruce Lee’s death. Ironically, Bruce Lee famously said, ‘Be water, my friend,’ but an excess of water seems to have ultimately killed him,” researchers wrote in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Kidney Journal.
At the time, doctors believed cerebral edema was caused by painkillers. However, over 50 years after Bruce Lee’s death, studies suggest the actor likely died of hyponatremia, or low blood sodium levels. This condition could result from excessive water or fluid intake, according to the Mayo Clinic.
This finding contrasts sharply with previous speculations about Bruce Lee’s death, including rumors that he was murdered by gangsters, poisoned by a jealous lover, victimized by a curse, or succumbed to heatstroke.
Researchers argue that Lee had multiple risk factors for hyponatremia, including high fluid intake, factors that could increase thirst (such as cannabis use), and factors impairing the kidneys’ ability to excrete water (like prescription drugs, alcohol, a history of kidney injury, or low solute intake).
The researchers noted that Lee’s medical history likely contributed to his death, including his excessive fluid intake.
Lee’s wife, Linda, mentioned his liquid-based diet, which included “carrot and apple juice.” Matthew Polly, author of the 2018 biography Bruce Lee: A Life, repeatedly highlighted the large amounts of water Lee consumed daily, even before falling ill.
The researchers pointed out that normal activities like continuous water drinking were significant indicators of Lee’s unusually high water intake on the day he fell ill.
Other factors in Lee’s medical history that researchers deemed relevant include cannabis, alcohol, prescription drugs, diuretics, opioids, kidney dysfunction, exercise, and a prior episode of cerebral edema two months before his death.
“In summary, we hypothesize that Bruce Lee died from a specific form of kidney dysfunction where the kidneys were unable to excrete enough water to maintain water balance, primarily involving tubular function,” the researchers wrote.
This could lead to hyponatremia, cerebral edema, and death within hours if excessive water intake did not correspond with urine output, aligning with the timeline of Lee’s death.
Two months before his passing, Bruce Lee was hospitalized with symptoms of exhaustion, seizures, and severe headaches. He was quickly taken to a hospital in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
At the hospital, Bruce Lee was diagnosed with cerebral edema. Doctors prescribed medications, and after a few days, Lee was discharged, appearing healthy.
In the following days, Lee occasionally complained of headaches but continued his usual diet and training regimen.
Cerebral edema recurred on July 20, 1973, the day Bruce Lee passed away.
The sudden death of the physically fit martial arts star shocked many. An autopsy later concluded that Bruce Lee died from cerebral edema.
