Autopsy finds severe coronary narrowing caused Ray MacDonald’s death
Ray MacDonald's family says he died peacefully in his sleep without pain and had shown no clear signs of illness before the severe heart condition was discovered.
- An autopsy determined that Ray MacDonald's death was caused by severe narrowing of 70–90% in all three of his main coronary arteries.
- The severe arterial blockage resulted in myocardial ischaemia, a fatal restriction of blood flow to the heart muscle.
- MacDonald showed no clear signs of illness before his death, which occurred peacefully in his sleep.
- His wife noted that he was afraid of doctors and reluctant to get health check-ups, which may have contributed to the condition going undetected.
An autopsy found severe narrowing of 70–90% in all three of Ray MacDonald’s main coronary arteries, causing myocardial ischaemia and his death, according to information disclosed by Shahkrit Yamnarm and Ray’s wife, Sirinya Jintanawararak.
Ray was found dead at his home on August 19.
Ray’s wife and relatives arrived at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police General Hospital at 11.24am on August 20, bringing clothes, shoes and a blanket to dress him for the final time.
Shahkrit explained that information received from Ray’s relatives indicated that he had died peacefully in his sleep without pain or suffering.
“Everything in his body was healthy. All his organs were in good condition,” he said, identifying the heart as the central issue and noting that Ray had shown no clear signs of illness beforehand.
Shahkrit described Ray as deeply committed to his work, frequently travelling and often getting little rest.
Although Ray did take breaks, travelling may itself have been his way of relaxing because every journey brought him happiness.
Shahkrit did not believe the death could be attributed solely to Ray’s lifestyle, instead describing it as another step in his friend’s journey to a good place.
Sirinya recalled that Ray had recently spent about one full month relaxing with the family.
Their child had attended summer school for one month before the family used the following month to travel.
Ray played football and took part in other activities with their child, while the family expressed their love for one another every night and regularly said goodbye with a kiss.
Ray normally woke each morning to see their child off.
CCTV footage from the night of his death showed him coming downstairs to watch television before lying down and adjusting his sleeping position normally.
He later became still and fell into a deep sleep, with no apparent emergency or sign of a serious event.
The footage was recorded after midnight, shortly before 1am.
The family went to bed and came downstairs again at about 6.30am to see their child off, discovering several hours later that Ray had died.
Sirinya initially thought he was pretending to be asleep because he enjoyed playing pranks, particularly when the family gathered for breakfast.
Sirinya and Shahkrit reported no clear symptoms before Ray’s death.
Sirinya said he had never mentioned feeling unwell, although Shahkrit noted that Ray had felt slightly uncomfortable after coming downstairs to watch television and had decided to lie down.
Sirinya also described Ray as afraid of doctors and reluctant to undergo health checks.
Even when he had a problem such as toothache, the family sometimes had to force or trick him into seeking medical care.
Following Ray’s death, Sirinya received more than 1,000 telephone calls and numerous LINE messages from friends and people in the entertainment industry.
Unable to answer them all, she asked members of the team to help manage the responses.
She thanked everyone for their support and believed their child would be proud of the work left by their father.
Ray still had commitments and projects discussed with clients, which his friends intended to continue.
Leo Putt, Tah Barby and members of the Rayron page team are expected to be involved, although the details and form of the work remain under discussion.
At the end of the interview, Shahkrit was unable to say anything to his close friend and appeared grief-stricken, with tears in his eyes.
The family will take Ray’s body to Wat Yang, a royal monastery, where the funeral bathing rite will be held privately.
Abhidhamma chanting is scheduled at Rattanaphram Pavilion at 6.30pm from August 20 to 25, followed by the cremation at 4pm on August 26.
