Natasha Richardson leaves shattered family behind

Hollywood actress Natasha Richardson, who died in a New York hospital after a skiing accident in Canada, has left a shattered family behind.

Her husband Liam Neeson and mother Vanessa Redgrave were grief-stricken when she was declared dead.

While Neeson had tearful eyes and a thwarted face, veteran British actress Redgrave fainted at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital.

Richardson's 72-year-old mother was singing the song Edelweiss to The Charge of The Light Brigade actress in her last moments. She collapsed in shock as soon as doctors turned off the life support system.

"As the life support was switched off, the family asked to be alone with Natasha. But the moment was overwhelming for Vanessa, who fainted briefly and nurses were asked to help," The Sun quoted a source as saying.

"Vanessa recovered enough to be supported by her family and Neeson, who was clearly overwhelmed," the source said.

While Neeson acknowledged the crowd outside his New York apartment, others also paid tribute to Richardson, daughter of Oscar-winning director Tony Richardson, grand-daughter of Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, niece of Corin and Lynn Redgrave, and sister of Joely Richardson. The lights on Broadway were dimmed.

Richardson had injured herself while taking a skiing lesson on a beginner's slope at the Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec, Canada.

An autopsy report revealed that her death was caused by epidural haematoma — bleeding between the skull and the brain — due to her blunt fall.