Nana Patekar Autopsy: Blood Clot Blocked a Main Heart Artery

Nana Patekar’s sudden death on October 8 shook Hindi and Marathi cinema fans. Three days later, a postmortem report from Goa Medical College and Hospital has given a clear medical answer: a blood clot in the left main coronary artery caused the heart attack that ended his life.

What the autopsy found

A senior doctor at GMCH confirmed the findings on Sunday. The autopsy established the cause of death as, in PTI’s words, “acute myocardial infarction due to left main coronary artery thrombosis secondary to atherosclerotic occlusive coronary artery disease, a natural cause of death.”

In simpler terms, the left main coronary artery is the vessel that supplies blood to a large part of the heart. A clot blocked that crucial artery, cutting off supply and triggering a fatal heart attack. The report calls it a natural cause.

The final hours

Patekar fell ill at his residence in Dona Paula, near Panaji, in the early hours of October 8. His caretaker called a private hospital for an ambulance; the hospital was less than a kilometre from the apartment.

• Fell ill at his Dona Paula home in the early hours of October 8
• Caretaker called for an ambulance from a nearby private hospital
• Doctors attempted CPR for about 45 minutes
• Declared dead at 5.10 am; a doctor initially suspected a heart attack
• Remains were taken to GMCH for postmortem
• Son Malhar Patekar arrived in Goa to bring his father’s body to Pune
• Cremated with full state honours at the family farmhouse in Donje village

A farewell with state honours

After the autopsy, Patekar’s remains travelled from Goa to Pune and then to Donje village, where the last rites were performed. Political figures including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Union ministers Ramdas Athawale and Murlidhar Mohol, and actor Jackie Shroff were among those who paid their respects.

The legacy he leaves behind

Across decades, Patekar stood out for a rare mix of intensity and ease. Whether in Hindi films or Marathi cinema, his screen presence was instantly recognisable, and his passing drew mourners from across politics and entertainment.

For viewers, the autopsy finding brings a measure of certainty. It confirms that the 75-year-old’s death came from the kind of cardiovascular disease that can strike without much warning, rather than anything unexplained.

Source: The Times of India