The Hesitant Housekeeper

When a person comes across a body, regardless of who it is, where it is, or whether you think it's alive or dead, it's react first--think second. Evidently, the housekeeper and/or the masseuse decided that something other than saving his life took precendence when they found Heath Ledger "cold and unresponsive" on his bed.

Rather than hitting 9-1-1 on the cell phone they picked up in the actor's bedroom, they called a friend--an actress--and asked her what to do. She said she'd call private security to come check the situation. The security personnel arrived at the apartment about the same time the medics arrived, but the news didn't say who finally called for help!

Once the 9-1-1 call was made, the medics arrived within 3 minutes.

It appears that there is a lag of almost 45 minutes between finding Ledger "cold and unresponsive" and the medics' arrival. The housekeeper says she heard him snoring, then he wasn't; thus, the time of death is ... let's see, somewhere in the 45-minute range between finding his body and the paramedics arriving on the scene?

Your first duty is to dial 9-1-1, then the friend, private security, agent, publicist, whatever. Not calling 9-1-1 first could very well be the difference between life and death when a person is "cold and unresponsive," and it appears that may be the case in this situation.

If I were Heath Ledger's family, I'd be insisting on investigating the 2 people who first found him unresponsive and failed to call for help immediately. As a parent, I'd want my son's life saved first, before ANY other phone calls are made!