Jimmy Hayes died with fentanyl and cocaine in his system, according to his widow Kristen and father Kevin Sr. who spoke withThe Boston Globeon Sunday.
The medical examiner also confirmed to PEOPLE that Hayes' cause of death was acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine. His manner of death was determined to be accidental.
On Friday, when Hayes' death certificate was issued to the town hall in Milton, Massachusetts, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s officeconfirmed to PEOPLEthat no foul play was involved in Hayes' death.
That same day, Kristen and the Hayes family learned of the cause of death prior to attending the New Jersey Devils' season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Prudential Center, where both teams paid tribute to Hayes. (The Devils wore No. 10 with Hayes' Broadway nickname on the back and the Blackhawks wore Hayes' No. 39 sweater during warmups. The late star was recognized in atribute video.)
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“I was completely shocked,'' Kristen told theGlobeafter getting the toxicology report from the Massachusetts state medical examiner on Friday.
“I was so certain that it had nothing to do with drugs. I really thought it was a heart attack or anything that wasn’t that [drugs],” she said. “It didn’t make any sense, so it was hard. I was hoping to get a different phone call when they called. I was hoping to get some clarity and I was shocked to hear that it was that … He never showed any signs of a struggle at home.''
Jimmy Hayes.Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty
According to theGlobe, Hayes had a problem with pain pills when he was playing professionally.
“I’m an addict myself. I’m sober a long, long time, but I know how powerful this stuff is. I was in shock when it happened, but then I started putting stuff together in my head,” his father Kevin Sr. told the outlet, adding that his son “made a terrible mistake and it cost him his life.”
“About maybe 16 or 17 months ago, I saw a little change in Jimmy’s behavior and I went to him and I said, ‘I think there might be a problem here with pills.’ He had had an injury for a while and I think he started taking the painkillers and they get you,” he continued, sharing that Jimmy told him: “Dad, I’m hooked on these pills. I got injured and I started taking them and I never got off.”
A week following his death, on Aug. 30, hundreds gathered at St. Ann’s Church in Dorchester to pay their respects at Hayes’funeral.
A procession of youth athletes, who dressed in Dorchester Youth Hockey jerseys, lined the local streets to honor their hometown hero before the service started. In attendance were Kristen and their respective parents as well as family members and friends. Jimmy and Kristen’s two young sons, Beau, 2, and Mac, who was 3 months old at the time, were not at the funeral.
Describing his older sibling as a “caring, loving, generous, loyal and determined” loved one, he continued, “As a brother, he built us up every way he could. He brought joy and laughter into every interaction.”
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Hayes played 334 games for four teams after a successful collegiate career and NCAA championship at Boston College.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
