After a head trauma, blood escapes from a blood vessel, which leads to the formation of a blood clot (haematoma). This then places pressure on the brain and causes damage to it.
Due to the seriousness of the condition, the NHS adds that it carries a “high risk of death,” particularly in older people and those who have been through a significant fall.
Acute subdural haematomas are the most serious type because they’re often associated with significant damage to the brain.
Although Richards only suffered from a minor fall, due to his age and history of alcohol misuse, the NHS states that this made him more likely to suffer from a subdural haematoma. This is thought to be because most individuals’ brains shrink to some degree as they get older, placing increased tension on the brain’s blood vessels.
