Charlbi Dean’s cause of death has been determined by a New York City MedicalExaminer.
The Triangle of Sadness actress –– whose full name is Charlbi Dean Kriek ––died from an unexpected and sudden illness in August. She was 32.
At the time, the illness was not revealed.
A spokesperson for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examinerconfirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday that she died of bacterial sepsis.
The sepsis “was a complication from asplenia (the absence of a spleen) due to”remote blunt trauma to her torso,” the spokesperson tells PEOPLE.
The South African actress’ death was ruled an accident.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 21: Charlbi Dean Kriek attends the screening of “TriangleOf Sadness” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais desFestivals on May 21, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Vittorio ZuninoCelotto/Getty Images)
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty
Her bacterial sepsis was caused after she was infected with a bacteria knownas Capnocytophaga. While the infection is rare, there are different species ofCapnocytophaga that develop in the mouths of humans and which are also presentin the mouths of dogs and cats, according to the CDC. People with autoimmuneissues and without spleens are particularly susceptible.
It is not clear if an animal bite or lick was responsible for the model’sinfections as the medical examiner has not made her full autopsy public.
RELATED: ‘ Triangle of Sadness’ Director Calls Actress Charlbi Dean’sSudden Death at 32 a ‘Tragedy’
Charlie Dean
Lionel Hahn/Getty Charlie Dean
RELATED: Charlbi Dean ‘s Fiancé Luke Volker Speaks Out After Her SuddenDeath at 32
Days after she died, Dean’s brother Alex Jacobs told Rollingstone that hersudden death in New York City on Monday happened after she began experiencing”minor” symptoms and soon asked her fiancé, Luke Volker, to take her to anemergency room. She died just hours later.
“This happened literally within the span of a day: getting a headache, goingto sleep, waking up her boyfriend and saying please take me to the hospital,”Jacobs told Rollingstone.
“We still aren’t entirely sure [what happened],” Jacobs added at the time.”There’s an autopsy being done which we know might take quite a while. Butwhat we have heard [that] there was a viral infection in her lungs.”
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Jacobs told Rollingstone that Dean was involved in a “very, very bad caraccident” around 2009, after which doctors removed her spleen. She alsosuffered broken ribs and a broken back in the accident, according to herbrother.
“[The spleen is] involved in fighting off infections, and that could have hadsomething to do with what happened,” Jacobs said. “Her spleen not being therejust added on to the reason why she perhaps couldn’t fight it off.”
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Volker also mourned the death of his fiancé on Instagram in a brief video toshow appreciation for the messages he received after the news.
“Hi, everyone. I wanted to just post a picture of Charlbi, but it’s a bithard,” began Volker, 26. “And just wanted to let you know I see all yourmessages, all the love, and I appreciate it. I really do. It’s just I can’treally reply to them right now. But thank you, guys. I appreciate it. I loveyou.”
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Triangle of Sadness writer/director Ruben Östlund grieved Dean in anInstagram post as well, saying it was “an honor to have gotten to know andwork with her” before the “tragedy.”
He added, “Charlbi had a care and sensitivity that lifted her colleagues andthe entire film crew. The thought that she will not be by our side in thefuture makes me very sad. At this difficult time, my thoughts go out to herloved ones, her family and her fiancé Luke.”