NEWS

Mitch Winehouse: Amy had detox responsibility

13th September 2011

(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Amy Winehouse's father has called his daughter's death "her responsibility" as she detoxed without medical assistance.

The British singer died at her London home in July aged 27. She'd fought a long battle with drug addiction and alcoholism but hadn't taken any illegal substances when she passed. Amy had drunk some alcohol, but her official cause of death won't be known until an inquest is held next month.

Amy's father Mitch believes she had a fatal seizure as she was trying to quit drinking. He's previously said she had a drug which is used to ease withdrawal from alcohol in her system, and has now spoken more about the subject.

"Her death was a horrible accident. It was her responsibility. She was told that if she detoxed without medical intervention, this whole thing could happen," he told British newspaper The Sun.

"She had seizures because she would binge drink and then stop. She had one in a hotel room in New York once when she was on Skype to a friend. She conked out in front of him. I had to ring hotel security and they rushed in there.

"She had that history. We won't know until the outcome of the inquest, but that's what we suspect was the cause."

Mitch also opened up about Amy's ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who is currently in prison for burglary and having an imitation firearm.

He blames Blake for introducing Amy to illegal drugs but says he isn't the reason she died.

Mitch believes Amy was attracted to Blake because they both had "dark" elements of their personality, which she often showed in her songs.

"One of the reasons she entered that world of drugs was Blake but also because her music was so dark. She was going to places I wouldn't want her to be. Her songs were about cutting her arm off and turmoil, tearing her heart out," he explained.

Amy and Blake were married from 2007 to 2009. Their relationship was marred by drug addiction, with Blake spending the majority of their marriage in prison for assault and perverting the cause of justice.

Mitch claims things began to fall apart for the couple when Amy tired of taking drugs, as Blake was happy with their life.

"When he came off [Osea Island in Essex, where they were in rehab] Blake said, 'I like being a drug addict. I like being on drugs. I have no intention of coming off drugs'. At that point I thought, 'We're in trouble here'. Amy was saying she couldn't be doing it any more but her husband actually wanted to continue," he recalled.

"The start of her recovery was when he went to prison."

Mitch prefers to remember the softer side of his daughter. She spent time on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia getting clean from drugs and he recalled a time when she asked him to fly to her with 5,000. It turned out she wanted the money to pay for an operation for a man who couldn't afford it.

"There's an awful lot to admire and respect about Amy, how she dealt with her demons. She was almost there with the drink. It was just one little step too far. She was a great girl," he said. (C) Cover Media

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