Bruce Lee was unquestionably the greatest martial artist of all time, earning him the nickname “The Dragon.” People were shocked when he collapsed at 32 and never recovered consciousness.
Bruce Lee inspired many individuals to make martial arts a permanent part of their lives, evidenced by the claim that he “wasn’t just an entertainer; he was an evangelist,” expressed in one of the most comprehensive biographies of Lee.
Bruce Lee Dies At Age 32
Bruce Lee looked like he could put out a blazing dragon if he ever had to. Even so, he passed away on July 20, 1973, at the early age of 32. How could a man of such impressive strength and health suddenly pass away? What happened to Bruce Lee? Lee’s last movie, Enter the Dragon, is widely regarded as one of the best martial arts films. His hand strikes were so quick that the filmmakers had to slow down the footage.
On May 10, 1973, while filming it, Lee suddenly became ill and was sent to Hong Kong Baptist Hospital. Cerebral edema, or brain swelling due to excess fluid, was the doctor‘s diagnosis. Mannitol, a medication known to relieve intracranial pressure, was administered to alleviate the swelling, but Lee would fall victim to cerebral edema again.
Lee and producer Raymond Chow discussed their scripts on July 20, 1973, at Betty Ting Pei’s home. Ting offered Lee Equagesic, a combination of aspirin and a tranquilizer, after Lee complained of a headache. Lee ingested the pill, went to sleep, and was never seen alive again.
“It is like a finger pointing away to the moon – Don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.” -Bruce Lee pic.twitter.com/IxLAnuZGtP
— Bruce Lee (@brucelee) September 5, 2022
Coroners deemed Bruce Lee’s death a “death by misadventure,” saying the martial artist had an extreme allergic response to the tranquilizer in Equagesic, leading to brain swelling, which led to his death. His hospitalization in May put things into perspective.
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