Yesterday (January 16), Lynch’s death was announced by his family on social media. His family did not share a date of his death. He was aged 78, says NME magazine.
Now, in a statement to Deadline, anonymous sources have revealed that his health took a turn for the worse after he was forced to evacuate from his home along Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. As of the time of writing, the details of his evacuation have remained private.
The wildfires would have drastically affected Lynch’s health, as the director revealed his emphysema diagnosis last year, which was caused by smoking for most of his life. Emphysema, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is where damage to the air sacs occurs as a result of smoking, pollution or workplace irritants (as per NHS). The disease causes breathing problems, coughing and those suffering from it can experience frequent chest infections and wheezing.
To add on, Lynch confirmed in November that he needed supplemental oxygen for strenuous activities, which he classified as “walking across a room” and more. He also added that due to fears of COVID-19 further affecting his condition, he would no longer be directing films on set or leaving his home for projects, instead opting to direct remotely.