Australian actor Richard Norton’s death was ‘triggered by’ his use of unapproved peptides, a coroner has ruled.
The martial arts legend had an extensive career in film and television as an actor, stuntman, instructor and had trained A-list stars including Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie and Ben Affleck.
The 75-year-old died at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital on March 30, last year, after he injected himself with peptides before collapsing and suffering a cardiac arrest.
Coroner David Ryan found Norton’s death was a result of complications caused by the unapproved peptide products CJC1295 and Ipamorelin, which had been perscribed to him by a doctor.
CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are peptides that work together to stimulate the body’s natural production of growth hormone.
They are commonly used to support muscle growth, improve recovery after exercise, enhance sleep quality, increase fat loss, and promote tissue repair and collagen production.
It’s believed Norton’s death is the first in Australia caused by the use of unapproved peptides.
A coroner has ruled Richard Norton’s (pictured) death was ‘triggered by’ the use of injecting unapproved peptides
The 75-year-old martial arts expert was a successful actor, stuntman and instructor, having trained A-list celebrities including Scarlett Johansson (pictured)
Norton’s doctor had prescribed the peptide products to treat symptoms relating to fatigue, reduced physical recovery, shoulder pain and the loss of lean muscle mass.
‘[Norton] ‘had been taking amounts of the medication in excess of the dose prescribed by his medical practitioner,’ Mr Ryan said in his findings on Wednesday.
In his report, Mr Ryan explained Norton had approached his practitioner Dr Jerzy Muchnicki and expressed an ‘interested in peptide therapy’.
Norton, who suffered from asthma and osteoarthritis and had undergone bilateral shoulder reconstructions, told Dr Muchnicki that another practitioner had prescribed him peptides.
‘Dr Muchnicki discussed in detail what was involved with peptide therapy, including the experimental nature of the treatment,’ the coroner wrote.
‘They also discussed the potential risks and the lack of other alternative treatment options currently approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
‘Dr Muchnicki also arranged a series of blood tests to confirm baseline health parameters and assess for any contraindications or underlying conditions that may influence treatment decisions.”
Norton signed an ‘Informed Consent Form for Peptide Therapy’ and was prescribed the unapproved peptide products CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin in injectable form.
Coroner David Ryan found Norton had collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest after injecting himself with unapproved peptide products CJC1295 and Ipamorelin
Norton’s doctor prescribed the peptides after the 75-year-old expressed an ‘interested in peptide therapy’ to treat fatigue, reduced physical recovery, shoulder pain and the loss of lean muscle mass (Norton pictured with Margot Robbie)
A licensed compounding pharmacy in Queensland prepared the treatment for Norton.
Days before his death, Norton told Dr Muchnicki that the peptide therapy had improved his symptoms and that he was ‘feeling good’.
However, the coronial inquest found Norton had told a nurse at Dr Muchnicki’s clinic that he had been administering double the prescribed dose.
‘The nurse advised Richard that from the following week he ought to only administer the prescribed dose,’ the coronial report stated.
Just hours after Norton’s conversation with the nurse, he injected a dose of CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin and became unresponsive.
Mr Ryan recommended the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) review the benefits and safety risks of peptides such as CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin.
He urged the body to ‘consider whether further restrictions ought to be imposed on their use’.
The TGA noted there were numerous existing pathways that allow medical practitioners to access unapproved peptides.
The coronial report also found Norton had told a nurse at his doctor’s clinic that he had been administering double the prescribed dose (Norton pictured with Liam Neeson)
‘TGA continues to warn consumers about the risks of unapproved peptides, which have not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality or effectiveness,’ the TGA said in a statement following the coronial report.
Norton grew up in Sydney and began studying judo at the age of 11. He earned a black belt in karate by 17.
In 1970, he was hired as the chief instructor at Bob Jones’ Martial Arts studio in Melbourne.’
He went on to have a successful career as a martial arts instructor, personal security guard and fight trainer for major Hollywood stars.
Norton married his wife Judy, a model and Sale of the Century star, in 1993.
He also appeared as a bodyguard in ABBA’s iconic 1977 film ABBA: The Movie which was filmed in Australia.
Norton is also known for his appearances in Hong Kong action films including The Magic Crystal, Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars and City Hunter.
He most recently worked as a fight co-ordinator in Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Suicide Squad and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
The martial arts expert also trained Liam Neeson on the film Backlight as well as Charlie Hunnam and Ben Affleck in Hawaii on the film Triple Frontier.
