What is pneumonia? The common infection that caused Sam Neill's death
Following the death of actor Sam Neill, this article explains the nature of pneumonia as a lung infection. It details symptoms, causes, and the risks it poses to older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
Why it matters
It provides public health education regarding a common but potentially life-threatening infection.
Sam Neill's long-time agent revealed he died from pneumonia. ( AP Photo: Richard Shotwell )
Link copied Share Share article From surviving rampaging dinosaurs to confronting supernatural horrors on screen, Sam Neill built a career portraying characters who faced extraordinary dangers.
But the illness that claimed the beloved New Zealand actor's life on Monday was one that doctors see every day: pneumonia.
Sam Neill plays Alan Grant in the 1993 film, Jurassic Park. ( Supplied: IMDB, Universal Pictures )
The 78-year-old's long-time representative, Philip Grenz, revealed on Thursday that Neill died from the lung infection after previously overcoming a rare blood cancer.
Although pneumonia is often treatable, it can quickly become life-threatening, particularly for older adults and people with underlying health conditions.
Here's what you need to know about the infection that results in more than 40,000 hospital admissions in Australia each year.
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