British actress Natasha Richardson died from an accidental blow to the head, an autopsy confirmed Thursday after a freak ski accident.

A spokesperson for New York's medical examiner said that Richardson (45) died from an accidental "blunt impact to the head".

The daughter of British stage and screen legend Vanessa Redgrave fell while learning to ski in Canada on Monday and became gravely ill soon after. She was taken to New York where she died on Wednesday.

AFP