Child Actress Skye McCole Bartusiak Had Seizures the Week Before Death

By
ETONLINE

Actress Skye McCole Bartusiak, best known for one of her earliest roles as Mel Gibson's youngest daughter in the revolutionary war film The Patriot, died at the age of 21 in her home in Texas.

According to Variety, no cause of death has been determined, but the actress did pass away in her sleep.


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CNN
reports
that Skye's mother revealed that she had been suffering from epileptic seizures since she was a baby -- though they disappeared for a few years until returning last week --and that her body was discovered by her boyfriend.

"We think she had a seizure and choked and nobody was there," she said. "[The paramedics] were working on her for 45 minutes and could not get a heartbeat. I've done CPR on that kid more than one time and it just didn't work this time."

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Tragically, Skye is the second actor from The Patriot to die at a young age.

Heath Ledger, who played Gibson’s son, died in 2008 from a combined drug intoxication. He was 28 years old.

Aside from The Patriot, Bartusiak appeared in multiple films and TV projects. Her debut came in the Stephen King miniseries Storm Of The Century. She also had roles in The Cider House Rules, the thriller Don't Say A Word, the hit thriller series 24, as well as episodes of CSI and Law & Order, among many others.

She was preparing to direct her first feature film when she passed away.