Nearly 50 years after Bruce Lee's death, a new study suggests he may have drowned.

[{"selector":"#anim-84b8111e-8495-4cc5-81f9-dcc074d0ee54 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1caf3b0-8e39-4830-b393-093711813324","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b784d54a-aba7-4de1-9e7d-a4d3d457cd49","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.50665%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-153dec82-5b4b-44a7-8674-8d38ce57e30a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44c15b94-1f29-440b-b00e-b6892fc6f2ee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This follows a study by Spanish kidney specialists published in the Clinical Kidney Journal in December 2022.

[{"selector":"#anim-fa0dae43-3a3b-49e9-8916-210ea58b2efb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdfd660a-8fe4-4cdf-8fe3-43b09cd357cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b22953c6-715e-4844-bd65-d29df79c4e32","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.50665%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d023d3a3-507a-4031-9f1e-5c510b905a72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2119656-8131-4725-bb5b-49aca380b536","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Lee died of cerebral oedema on July 20, 1973 in Hong Kong at age 32.

[{"selector":"#anim-41cf4a64-5b59-4f55-9e40-936f312a8122 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1112b580-02c2-46a1-9f03-bc1ccf0e46a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-024c8346-78d1-48d9-aad4-cc42aaa698e8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 180.29634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42f1d83d-eb1c-4794-aa73-a467c2f6a256","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23c440c0-4050-45f8-877e-651e1cdc55fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Lee's swelling was thought to be a reaction to a component in a painkiller called Equagesic.

[{"selector":"#anim-f13b2853-9610-4e9d-80fb-abbb4d94f7ca [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f856f120-24ba-47f3-b3ed-1779fa45becf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40d96e5a-6693-4dde-871a-714d7fd15c59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.50665%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e0171a1-d3f2-4bbf-94ca-c6ff48574ad1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99936f0d-f18b-42fb-b3f1-8e8cd0d1862b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The new study discovered that cerebral oedema was caused by hyponatremia,

[{"selector":"#anim-0721dbc9-7539-4549-bdb3-f2d80bd2c080 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18c50c72-16e9-4f4a-8864-2ffe63271c8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69496928-cb79-4da0-bdc3-3f0f2a6a290d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.50665%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7184d45b-69e1-4e74-a87c-d822557a5ce1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73243d01-fad9-466e-ad9f-859e05dcf2dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Lee's diet consisted of juices and protein drinks, and he used cannabis, which produced thirst, and alcohol.

[{"selector":"#anim-694a7968-9c7e-438e-b1db-9c7441a41878 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-098b8869-5b29-4a2a-bf8a-1af7d6e0e636","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e351f18-c042-4e2e-a524-5a31b2df1c03","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.50665%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30f92735-14d5-413d-9212-348cb139bc89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e20645a0-e70c-4d2d-9a8f-f48c2c1dd630","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"Lee had many risk factors for hyponatraemia due to water homeostasis processes that regulate water intake and excretion.

[{"selector":"#anim-4ce5b0c0-d808-4e61-b0a0-2ca432817b84 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56aa82e2-d60e-4db2-af82-30f078f3049f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-037e679c-de56-452c-9b16-6b052baf557b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 142.71082%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de567c27-a5c1-4a3a-87ee-1cc6859e56e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-877d7e25-2761-4db2-9684-4f6e351b23a9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"Bruce Lee died from kidney disease, specifically the inability to excrete enough water to sustain water homeostasis.

[{"selector":"#anim-b88639f9-05bb-4deb-afdf-e4c73fafcb75 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c45c4862-d440-4d29-8c2b-7b73a884f1e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a84bc9ef-cc3d-4767-aefb-55cc3d0c9873","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.58315%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f28beef4-f49b-4a29-abde-fd6eb3cb9742","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03d52d59-c104-4b3c-8562-6942e227d55d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"Bruce Lee died from kidney disease, specifically the inability to excrete enough water to sustain water homeostasis.

[{"selector":"#anim-278f1d20-c48c-4a28-81b7-ea281cc863f1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15f945aa-937d-4dec-adad-73c78bfe57e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4269baf4-3b18-437c-968f-269db8456f75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.58315%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c048f93-cb1f-45f5-9c99-34954da9c362","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b556cf78-4612-47bc-80a0-bd33ac1b0cb0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

"Lee famously said, "Be water my buddy," but excess water killed him, the authors wrote.

[{"selector":"#anim-b27e6761-6ec1-4610-adfc-09dbffcdb3c6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-404bb19e-ca7c-4642-b40a-b039bc3554ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0789a7c-0aa7-4538-973b-3327847d3eac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 154.33235%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef372188-061c-4675-9e39-7b58ba830b6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-effabfd1-9388-4b4c-b20b-7462b0784965","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Lee's death has been the subject of rumours for decades, with some claiming he was killed by criminals.

[{"selector":"#anim-280d87cb-c0d7-47e9-8aa8-e2b7e8568acc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c0d25d6-743d-4af4-9fae-3e2aab7419aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a786b803-5136-4000-9a81-a38c8619b8e2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 154.33235%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68281db2-0b02-4769-9934-9dffd6d8708e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89f6c7c6-9869-415b-9f09-db45f5991dad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Matthew Polly's 2018 book Bruce Lee: A Life suggested Lee died of heatstroke.

[{"selector":"#anim-d84d5512-668e-42c0-9b63-1fbf8b5f5c2a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9168c51-2233-4a50-ba85-fa0886e1b40b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-739e5933-3e42-47cd-a04c-f3566917111c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 154.33235%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a56640e5-72b9-49de-a1ac-f40e09a5b6b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2579bd46-ca9e-41c8-9538-666a8c1930ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.78265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Nearly 50 years after Bruce Lee's death, a new study suggests he may have drowned.

This follows a study by Spanish kidney specialists published in the Clinical Kidney Journal in December 2022.

Lee died of cerebral oedema on July 20, 1973 in Hong Kong at age 32.

Lee's swelling was thought to be a reaction to a component in a painkiller called Equagesic.

The new study discovered that cerebral oedema was caused by hyponatremia,

Lee's diet consisted of juices and protein drinks, and he used cannabis, which produced thirst, and alcohol.

"Lee had many risk factors for hyponatraemia due to water homeostasis processes that regulate water intake and excretion.

"Bruce Lee died from kidney disease, specifically the inability to excrete enough water to sustain water homeostasis.

"Bruce Lee died from kidney disease, specifically the inability to excrete enough water to sustain water homeostasis.

"Lee famously said, "Be water my buddy," but excess water killed him, the authors wrote.

Lee's death has been the subject of rumours for decades, with some claiming he was killed by criminals.

Matthew Polly's 2018 book Bruce Lee: A Life suggested Lee died of heatstroke.

More Stories.

Jennifer Lopez Deletes Instagram Posts, Social Channels Blackout

Here's Why Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker Broke Up

BTS Member Jin To Begin Military Service Next Month