Alexi Laiho’s cause of death revealed as “alcohol-induced liver degeneration”

Alexi Laiho’s cause of death has been revealed, two months after his passing at the age of 41.

• READ MORE: Alexi Laiho: A hugely influential musician who helped shape the course of modern metal guitar

On Friday (5 March), Laiho’s legal widow and Sinergy bandmate, Kimberly Goss, took to Instagram to inform fans that the Children Of Bodom guitarist died from “alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue”.

She also revealed, from Laiho’s final forensic report, that he “had a cocktail of painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in his system” at the time of his death.

In her statement, Goss called Laiho’s death “entirely preventable” and a “cautionary tale that no one is invincible”.

“He had so many good years left in him,” she wrote. “Imagine all the amazing music we could still be getting if he had just accepted help.”

Goss also appealed to fans who may be struggling with addiction battles: “I plead with anyone who is struggling with alcoholism or any other substance abuse problem, to please seek support. You do not have to meet this same fate.”

“If people are trying to help you, remember that they are doing it out of love and concern, so please do not push them away,” she wrote. “Please do not surround yourself with enablers who promote your addictions.”

In the wake of Laiho’s death, Goss shared her hopes of establishing charity efforts dealing with addiction recovery in Laiho’s home country of Finland.

“I do not want his death to be in vain,” she said. “My hope is to eventually start a memorial foundation or charity in his native Finland to help others struggling with these same demons.”

“This needs to be an open conversation, not a source of shame. We are all human, we all suffer, but help is out there.”

See the full post below:

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A post shared by Kimberly Goss (@kimvoxrox)

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