UPDATE: An inquest has heard that Nick Cave’s son fell from a cliff and suffered fatal brain injury after taking the hallucinogen LSD, which was discovered in his system.
Nick Cave’s 15-year-old son was found fatally injured at the bottom of a cliff and died after being airlifted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, England. Arthur Cave, who left behind a twin brother, Earl, messaged his friends, posted updates on social media, and shared a “selfie” before tumbling to his death for 60 feet in Ovingdean.
According to RollingStone, a spokesperson for the Sussex police confirmed:
A 15-year-old boy who was found with life-threatening injuries on the underpass of Ovingdean Gap, having fallen from the cliff above, has sadly died in hospital on Tuesday. Members of the public carried out first aid on the boy before he was taken to the Royal Sussex county hospital, Brighton, just after 6 p.m. He later died there of his injuries. The death is being dealt with by the coroner’s officer.
Recently, Nick Cave and wife Susie Bick appeared with Arthur and Earl in 20,000 Days On Earth, a film documenting “both [the] fact and fiction” of a day in Nick Cave’s life. After his son’s tragic death, Cave – an Australian musician, songwriter, and lead singer of the alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – said:
Our son Arthur died on Tuesday evening. He was our beautiful, happy, loving boy. We ask that we be given the privacy our family needs to grieve at this difficult time.
On Wednesday, Earl set flowers and a note on the beach where his brother died. “Arthur,” the message read, “I love you so much. You were a joy to be around and I will never forget you. You were the best brother I could ever ask for. Earl.” Another of Arthur’s friends promised to return to the cliff annually in remembrance of his death.
In the aftermath of the devastation, stars are offering tribute and sympathy in honor of Arthur Cave. For instance, singer Alison Moyet tweeted: “How my heart aches for Nick Cave & Susie & Earl at their loss.” Brian McFadden also shared his thoughts on Twitter: “Very sad to hear the news about Arthur Cave. My thoughts are with Nick and the rest of the family. Heartbreaking.”