Whitney died at just 48-years-old after decades in the music industry. The star, who was best known for performing such songs as I Will Always Love You and I Wanna Dance With Somebody, was found dead in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, submerged in her suite’s bathtub. The paramedics attempted to resuscitate the singer, who had sold more than 200 million records worldwide, but she was soon pronounced dead at 3:55pm. Whitney was discovered by her personal bodyguard Ray who recently recalled the harrowing moment he found his employer underneath the surface of the water in the bathtub.
Ray remembered the horrific moment when he laid eyes on her and did not know how to react. He said: “I saw Whitney in the bathtub and I panicked. I couldn’t tell if she was alive or dead. I got her out of the water and tried to revive her. Then it was all crazy.” (Via Mirror)
The bodyguard had been part of Whitney’s personal security for more than 12 years. He looked back in terror on the surreal moment.
Ray confessed: “It was the worst thing that has ever happened in my life. I never will forget it. Never.”
A postmortem of Whitney’s body found that she sank to the bottom of her tub after suffering a massive heart attack. This was reportedly caused in part by “years of cocaine abuse”. She also had marijuana and prescription drugs in her system. Ray then spoke candidly about whether he had ever seen her using drugs.
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Ray said: “I love her and I miss her. But it’s Whitney Houston and she’s never going to be forgotten. Ten years, 100 years… we won’t be around, but she will be remembered.”
The star’s funeral was held the following week, on February 18. Some incredible stars attended and performed at the memorial service, including Stevie Wonder, CeCe Williams and Alicia Keys. Ray reportedly gave a heartfelt eulogy about the star, whom he had spent many years alongside every hour of the day.
Unfortunately, he had to witness another death in the family just three years later.
In 2015 Whitney’s 22-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was also found unresponsive in a bath. The young woman spent six months in a coma. Ray confessed he “takes responsibility” for her death.
He said: “She didn’t pass away in the tub, but her normal life ended right there. I talked to her on the phone the night before. She was troubled about her mother and it was a sad situation. Her mother was gone and she was lost in her mind. Bobbi Kristina went through hell – it was the worst nightmare, her mother dying. I’d go to see her every day in the hospital and hospice. There is no word in the English language to say how awful it was.” He added: “I asked myself at the time: ‘How can this happen, what else can happen now?’ In a way, I take responsibility myself. I was part of the group around her and sharing responsibility for her.”
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