The wife of Harry Potter star Warwick Davis' cause of death has been revealed more than a year after she passed away. Samantha Davis, who was also an actress, died aged 53 at University College Hospital in London on March 24, 2024. An inquest into her death concluded that she died as a result of a cardiac arrest following complications from an essential surgery.
Samantha first fell ill with sepsis in 2019, which led to intensive care treatment and spinal operations. She had been admitted to the hospital on February 7, 2024, after a sudden loss of mobility in her lower limbs due to a disc prolapse. Following a thoracotomy operation on February 20, her condition improved, and she underwent another thoracotomy on March 14. However, just hours before she was scheduled to be discharged, she went into cardiac arrest at 11:25 PM on March 23 and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on March 24.
Senior Coroner for Inner West London, Professor Fiona Wilcox, stated that the medical cause of death was arrhythmic cardiac arrest and complications from left thoracotomies. She noted, "In my view, the stress of everything together has precipitated this arrhythmic cardiac arrest in a lady who was not known to have any previous arrhythmia problems." Professor Wilcox expressed her sorrow at the circumstances, saying, "It is frankly heartbreaking that the surgery itself was successful only for complications to arise and to cause her death."
Warwick Davis, who married Samantha in 1991, described her as his "most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career." He reflected on their life together during an emotional tribute at the BAFTA Film Fellowship award ceremony in February 2025. "Since then, life has been pretty tough for me," he said, referring to Samantha's passing. "Thanks to the support of our wonderful children, Annabelle and Harrison, I have been able to continue working and engaging in life."
The couple had three children together, but tragically lost their first child, Lloyd, just nine days after birth. Their surviving children, Harrison and Annabelle, shared their grief, stating, "Mum is our best friend and we’re honoured to have received a love like hers." They also expressed hope that the inquest would provide answers regarding their mother’s death.
Warwick Davis has retained the law firm Irwin Mitchell to represent his family in the case against the hospital. The inquest was held at Inner West London Coroner’s Court on April 14, 2025. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Samantha Davis had undergone multiple surgeries due to achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that results in dwarfism, which she was diagnosed with as a child. Professor Wilcox highlighted that Samantha's condition was complicated by severe spinal issues that required extensive medical intervention.
David Lawrence, a cardiothoracic surgeon at University College London Hospitals, testified that Samantha's condition was progressing well before her sudden cardiac arrest. He mentioned that she had a surgical chest drain removed on March 19 and a final drain removed on March 23, just hours before her death. Lawrence stated, "We had good evidence that this patient had a chest x-ray that was acceptable, very stable observations and this patient did not bleed during the day."
However, during the inquest, it was noted that the hospital staff felt "out of their comfort zone" during the resuscitation efforts. Jillian Hartin, the lead nurse for patient emergency response, mentioned that since 2020, the hospital had only experienced 14 cardiac arrests in five years, indicating the rarity of such events.
In a statement released ahead of the hearing, Samantha's family described the past year as "incredibly difficult" and expressed their gratitude for the support they received. They also mentioned the impact of "Sammy’s Helping Hands," a fund established in her honor to support young people in the dwarfism community.
Warwick Davis and Samantha co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012, aimed at helping individuals with dwarfism and their families. They also starred together in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, where Samantha played a goblin, while Warwick portrayed Professor Flitwick and the goblin Griphook.
The couple first met on the set of the 1988 film Willow, where Warwick was a lead actor. Their romance blossomed during filming, leading to a marriage that lasted over three decades. In a heartfelt tribute, Warwick mentioned how Samantha's support throughout his career made him feel like he could achieve anything, describing her presence as a "superpower."
As the family navigates this difficult chapter, they continue to honor Samantha's legacy through their charitable work and by cherishing the memories of her vibrant spirit. The inquest has provided some closure, but the emotional journey for Warwick and their children is far from over.
In the wake of Samantha's passing, Warwick has expressed both sorrow and gratitude for the time they shared. He has said, "Her love, support, and determination is a legacy we want to continue." As they move forward, the Davis family remains committed to making a positive impact in the dwarfism community, ensuring that Samantha's memory lives on.
