Why Did Fitness Guru Richard Simmons Turn Down Medical Attention After Bathroom Fall?

Richard Simmons' failure to take an important step after his fall might have contributed to his death.

New information has emerged concerning the circumstances surrounding the fitness expert's death, and it is directly connected to a lack of urgent medical attention.

Richard Simmons was pronounced dead by medics when found unresponsive the morning after he suffered a major fall in his Los Angeles home.

The late Simmons' housekeeper revealed to authorities that she offered to call medical services after his bathroom slip but was met with resistance from the celebrity because he wanted to spend his 76th birthday at home.

The housekeeper continued that Simmons expressed feeling dizzy before eventually falling, prompting her to suggest calling emergency services. But Simmons considered going in on Saturday instead and asked to be helped back to bed.

Tragedy struck the next morning when the housekeeper found Richard lying unresponsive around 10 am on the floor next to his bed, leading her to call the local authorities, who pronounced him dead on the scene and established that there were no suspicions of foul play.

A source confirmed to TMZ that the television legend showed no signs of external injury from the fall and could not ascertain the cause of his dizziness or if the fall led to his death.

Simmons' autopsy has been completed, but the cause of his death is yet to be announced following pending toxicology test results.

The excitement of his milestone age by friends and family was definitely cut short by the tragic incident that happened exactly one day after he clocked 76.

The Blast reported that he shared the cheerful news of his new age on his Facebook account on Friday, July 12th, including a quick story about his life. As the TV star thanked fans for their warm wishes, he wrote:

"When I taught class at Slimmons, on my birthday they would have special cakes made for me. One was a sheet cake airbrushed with my picture on it…….one was a Barbie doll and her dress was the cake……also what about that cake with a big Disco ball on top? It was my birthday when we taped Groovin in the House .…that was a three-dimensional three-foot cake in the shape of one of my Dalmatians … You know I cried."

When asked what he had planned for his 76th birthday, the fitness enthusiast revealed he would probably blow out a candle on a zucchini since he was a vegetarian.

He did not hesitate to declare that he felt good and was grateful to be alive for another day, stressing that he would spend his birthday helping people like he does every day.

Simmons was renowned for his energetic fitness tapes and DVDs after he rose to fame in the 70s and 80s and had many gyms under his name. 

The fitness veteran, who still shared a post on Facebook on Saturday morning before the news of his passing filled the air, revealed that he recently underwent a painful but necessary skin cancer treatment on his face.

Always so vocal, Simmons shared the news on his social media account to help create awareness and educate people on the need for regular checkups. The gym master wrote:

"I know some of you reading this have had cancer or have known someone in your life who has had cancer. Promise me you will see your doctor and get a complete check-up. Tell the ones that you love that you love them. Hug.  those people and children who you really care for. A big hug really goes a long way."

Simmons dropped a controversial post about death on Facebook back in March, which caused an uproar on his health status among his social media followers.

However, the star came back online to clarify the post and calm down concerned folks, stating that he was not battling any health issues and the post was merely a powerful reminder to cherish life.

"It was a message about how we should embrace every day that we have," wrote the fitness guru. His manager, Michael Catalano, also corroborated his statement and assured the fans that Simmons was in perfect health.

Before the cold hands of death snatched him, Simmons was gearing up to launch a new Broadway show featuring Hollywood legend Patrick Leonard on the soundtrack.

Per The Blast, the show would reportedly feature an open space near the Broadway stage where theater lovers could participate in an energetic and celebratory experience.

The fitness icon retired from the public eye to spend the rest of his days in his Los Angeles home in 2014 after several decades of helping people enjoy fitness and staying healthy in fun, innovative ways.

Simmon's last days were indeed not idle, and the star's legacies live on!