No Official Word on Richardson, Media Outlets Reach Out to Medical Experts

The New York Times is updating that Natasha Richardson's family is with her at the Lenox Hill Hospital, while her relatives continue the emotional vigil, the media continues to grapple with how to follow the story, several news outlets are reaching out for medicial opinion on her fall and resulting condition.

Dr. Steven Flanagan, director of Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University's Langone Medical Center spoke to FOX News, Flanagan expressed the fact that "I can only speculate, but it sounds like something we call the ‘talk and die' syndrome," he added, "What this implies is that someone hits their head and they are seemingly OK initially," telling the news channel that "But then they get a rapid collection of blood - usually called epidural hemorrhage - and that means bleeding between the skull and the brain." 

A blow to the head that at first seems minor and does not result in immediate pain or other symptoms can in fact turn out to be a life-threatening brain injury, experts told CNN.

CNN and other news sources reported earlier today that members of Natasha Richardson's family are gathering at the New York City hospital where the Tony-winning actress was reportedly taken with a serious head injury after falling on a Canadian resort ski slope.

There has been no official statement from the family oh her condition or injury.

The Lenox Hill Hospital would not confirm Richardson's transfer from the Montreal hospital but several members of her family, including her mother, Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave, and her sister, Nip/Tuck star Joely Richardson, were shown arriving reports the news website. 

Natasha Richardson was privately flown away from the Montreal hospital where she was being treated Tuesday afternoon as speculation swirled regarding the seriousness of her condition after her fall at the upscale Mont Tremblant ski resort.

The Toronto Star earlier yesterday reported seeing a distraught Neeson crouched inside the back of an ambulance at Montreal's Sacre-Coeur hospital as Richardson, wrapped in blankets and with tubes covering her face, was loaded inside.

Neeson had immediately left the Toronto set of his upcoming movie, "Chloe," to be by her side in Montreal, a publicist for the film said in a statement.

Nearly 24 hours after Richardson took a fall that a Tremblant spokesperson said looked harmless enough, media reports have widely varied concerning her condition with a few saying she was brain dead and one sadly claiming she passed away from her injuries.

Several members of the theatrical industry were too overwhelmed to speak on the very sad nature of the developing situation.

Both the New York Post and FOXNews.com news sites said the actress was brain dead and had been flown to Manhattan to be taken off life-support.

Other websites such as E!ONLINE and TMZ claimed that the 45-year-old actress had swelling of the brain.

Access Hollywood has addressed the rumor plagued status of actress Richardson's condition following her accident on Monday detailing the conflicted nature of how to report this sad breaking news situation.

Her mother, Vanessa Redgrave visited Lennox Hill Hospital this evening to visit her daughter, but gave no comment.

CBC News was updating that the award winning British actress had left a Montreal hospital this morning after being injured in a skiing accident.

A spokeswoman for Montreal's Sacré-Coeur hospital told CBC that the actress was "no longer in the country," but did not comment on where Richardson was transferred to, nor the true level of her injuries. The spokeswoman did say, however, that a family representative will release a statement Wednesday.

According to online reports, Richardson, 45, was transferred via private jet to New York, with her husband, actor Liam Neeson, by her side.

One erroneous report on the Time Out New York website indicated that Ms. Richardson succumbed to her critical injuries and passed away.

Natasha Richardson was critically injured in a ski accident on Monday afternoon and was being treated in a Montreal hospital.

IrishCentral.com reported Richardson, who has appeared in more than 35 films including The Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan, was on a ski vacation and was hurt while skiing.

Richardson is the wife of Liam Neeson, and is the daughter of legendary actress Vanessa Redgrave.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reported in his 'On Broadway' column last month that the mother and daughter team of Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson had such a wonderful time performing in the Roundabout gala benefit reading of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" last month that they're up for a full-fledged revival on Broadway next year.

Richardson made her feature film debut as Mary Shelley in Ken Russell's "Gothic" (1986). Her performance caught the attention of director Paul Schrader, who cast her in the title role in "Patty Hearst" (1988), In 1995 she co-starred with Jodie Foster and Liam Neeson in "Nell" (1994) and, in 1998, in "The Parent Trap" (1998) with Dennis Quaid. Her recent films include "Blow Dry" (2001) released in 2001, and Ethan Hawke's "Chelsea Walls" (2001).

She and her family are in the thoughts and prayers of BWW and the entire theatre community.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.