The chief medical examiner for New York City reportedly determined the death of Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) executive Kendal Ascher was related to a cosmetic procedure.
His death was due to acute respiratory failure because of pulmonary embolism linked to foreign material following cosmetic filler injections, the New York Post reported, citing the city medical examiner’s statement Tuesday. Ascher died in February at the age of 56 in his New York apartment. A pulmonary embolism is an abrupt blockage inside the pulmonary arteries, which are how blood reaches the lungs, according to Penn Medicine.
The executive had showered when he claimed he began feeling lightheaded, according to the New York Post. His husband, William Howe, attempted to assist, but Ascher tragically died in his arms. It’s unclear what sort of filler Ascher reportedly received or when he went in for the cosmetic procedure connected to the sudden blockage in an artery in his lungs.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Group President, North America Estee Lauder Companies and La Mer Chris Good and VP General Manager, North America Estee Lauder Companies and La Mer Kendal Ascher attend La Mer x Nina Garcia Regenerating Serum Dinner at The Times Square EDITION on September 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for La Mer)
“It’s just profoundly sad,” Howe told the Daily Mail on June 15. “I witnessed it, it was immediate. The cause was secondary.”
Howe previsouly told the outlet that he couldn’t find a pulse on his spouse, and his death was very sudden.
“It all happened within eight seconds,” he said.
The medical examination determined his death was accidental, according to the New York Post.
Howe told the Daily Mail he had no knowledge of Ascher undergoing any filler procedures. Howe claimed that he and the ELC exec had gone for a Botox treatment five months before his tragic passing, but that did not explain the medical examiner’s findings.
Ascher started working for ELC in 1995, but left in the early 2000s before returning to luxury beauty corporation in 2007, according to his LinkedIn profile. He held the position of senior vice president and general manager of their luxury portfolio at the time of his death.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Group President, North America Estee Lauder Companies and La Mer Chris Good,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Director Consumer Engagement, North America Estee Lauder Companies and La Mer Rie Maiden and VP General Manager, North America Estee Lauder Companies and La Mer Kendal Ascher attend La Mer x Nina Garcia Regenerating Serum Dinner at The Times Square EDITION on September 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for La Mer)
He was responsible for managing the luxury perfume label Jo Malone London, and the high-end skincare companies La Mer and Darphin, across North America. (RELATED: Corey Feldman Reveals Medical ‘Misdiagnosis,’ Says He Suffered From Food Poisoning On Plane)
Ascher’s extensive experience in the beauty experience led to a robust resume that included work as an Account Executive for Aramis Designer Fragrances and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. He worked for L’Oréal for roughly six years beginning in 2001 as assistant vice president of varketing for skin care brand Kiehl’s before rejoining ELC in 2007.