Amy Tryon’s husband speaks out about her cause of death

Abby linked to the Seattle Times story in the News & Notes last night, which stated that the cause of event rider Amy Tryon’s tragic death in April was an accidental drug overdose.  Toxicology tests showed that present in her system at the time of her death were Oxycodone (a prescription painkiller), diphenhydramine (an ingredient in over-the-counter cold and allergy medications), and several benzodiazepines: Alprazolam, Diazepam, Lorazepam and Temazepam (used to treat insomina or anxiety).  The mixture of these medications is dangerous; it wasn’t the amount, but the combination of drugs that was lethal.

The Chronicle of the Horse posted the story this morning and recently updated their story to include quotes from Amy’s husband, Greg.  From The Chronicle:

“She had her jaw dislocated on the Sunday before her death by a horse,” said her husband, Greg. “She’d had surgery to have both joints put back in on Tuesday. She took way too many of her muscle relaxants, plus the pain medication that she was on for the jaw, and apparently some other stuff as well. You couple all that together, and it’s a lethal combination. She was taking it as her management of the pain from the jaw. She wasn’t on that prior to that event. According to the medical examiner, it wasn’t the amount that was in her system, it was the different types. It was a poor choice on her part, and it had disastrous effects.

“She was tough; she was obstinate. She gave her all in everything she did. That was to her benefit and her downfall,” Greg continued.

He said Amy was feeling very positive before her death with two promising young horses in the barn and an enthusiastic barn staff who made the barn a fun place to work.

“Some friends in the horse world from both sides of the Atlantic were going to go to Africa on a safari with horses. When she came home from California the week before she was non-stop chatting about wanting to go on this safari. Those are the things we were planning,” said Greg. “She wasn’t a super hero. But she was an amazing person who had her faults and had her strengths like all of us. She just wanted to try and see if she could do it.

 

EN would like to express our heartfelt condolences to Amy’s family and friends.  This was a horrible tragedy, and we offer our sympathies and prayers to her loved ones during this difficult time.  I have lost several members of my extended family due to prescription drug overdose, and it is a very real problem affecting people of all walks of life.  I hope we do not judge Amy by her unfortunate end, but that we may remember her as she lived, representing Team USA at the very top of eventing.

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