There has been a heartbreaking update in the medical status of actress Natasha Richardson. The New York Post, citing statements from Richardson's friends, is reporting that the actress has been pronounced brain dead.

The 45-year-old mother of two is currently being treated at a Montreal hospital for a head injury sustained at the Mont Tremblant ski resort yesterday. The British-born actress reportedly fell during a private lesson on the resort's beginner trail. In a statement, Tremblant spokeswoman, Lyne Lortie says that Richardson was “accompanied by an experienced ski instructor who immediately called the ski patrol.”

Lortie adds the actress “did not show any visible sign of injury, but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor.” Another resort rep, Catherine Lacasse, says Richardson “was laughing and joking” after the incident.

“As an additional precautionary measure, the ski instructor, as well as the ski patrol, accompanied Mrs. Richardson to her hotel. They again recommended she should be seen by a doctor.”

“Approximately an hour after the incident, Mrs. Richardson was not feeling good. An ambulance was called and Mrs. Richardson was brought to the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste-Agathe and was later transferred to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur.”

~ Lyne Lortie
Spokesperson, Mont Tremblant Ski Resort

Richardson's husband, actor Liam Neeson, was shooting a movie in Toronto when he received word of the accident and immediately rushed to Montreal to be by his wife's side. The Post is now reporting that Neeson will accompany Richardson when she is airlifted back to a New York hospital later today, at which time, the paper claims, Richardson will be removed from life support - after friends and family, including her two children, 13-year-old Michael and 12-year-old Daniel, and her mother, actress Vanessa Redgrave, have said their goodbyes.

Since these reports are only citing "sources" and "friends," there is still hope that these updates have been greatly exaggerated. TMZ updated their website at 2:00 PM this afternoon and claim they have spoken to hospital representatives who only state that Richardson is suffering from brain swelling and has not been proclaimed brain dead. TMZ did however confirm that Richardson is being transported by jet; presumably to a New York hospital.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Natasha Richardson and her family.
It's never too late for a miracle.

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