Actress Natasha Richardson dies

Tony award winning actress Natasha Richardson died in a Manhattan hospital here after suffering a serious head injury during a skiing accident. She was 45.

Richardson's husband, actor Liam Neeson and their sons, Michael (13) and Daniel (12) were by her bedside when the end came on Wednesday.

"Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time," family spokesman Alan Nierob said in a statement.

The statement did not disclose the cause of death but media reports said Richardson had become brain dead due to the impact of the fall.

Richardson fell during a beginners ski lesson at the Mont Tremblant resort about 120 km North of Montreal in Canada on Monday and according to some reports was not wearing a helmet when the accident occurred.

However, emerging reports suggest that her life could have been saved if medical help was sought earlier. Some reports suggest that paramedics, who had reached the scene soon after the incident were turned away as the actress said that she was fine.

The injury was initially dismissed as a minor accident but the actress had to be taken to a local hospital, later after complaining of severe headache.

Richardson was later transferred to the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal. The actress was flown to New York and admitted in a hospital Tuesday after her condition worsened.

Lyne Lortie, a spokeswoman for the Mont Tremblant ski resort in the Laurentian Hills north of Montreal, said, "It was a normal fall; she didn't hit anyone or anything. She didn't show any signs of injury; she was talking and she seemed all right."

Richardson, daughter of Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave and director Tony Richardson, was married to Schindler's List actor Liam Neeson.

Richardson won a Tony award in 1998 for her performance as Sally Bowles in a 1998 Broadway musical Cabaret. Her film roles include The Parent Trap, Maid In Manhattan , Evening, The Handmaid's Tale, Gothic and Nell where she appeared with husband Neeson.

Born in May 1963, Richardson was trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.