Loren Del Santo was the son of Italian model and actress Lory Del Santo and British rock legend Eric Clapton. He was born in June 1999 and died in August 2018 at the age of 19. His death was ruled as a suicide by the authorities, but what led him to take such a drastic step? What was the cause of his death?
A Severe Cerebral Pathology
According to his mother, Loren Del Santo suffered from a rare and incurable condition called anhedonia, which is a form of depression that prevents people from feeling any pleasure, joy, or emotion. He was diagnosed with this disorder when he was 14 years old, after he attempted suicide for the first time. He was hospitalized and treated with various medications, but none of them worked for him.
Lory Del Santo revealed that her son had a “severe cerebral pathology” that made him unable to enjoy anything in life. He was constantly tormented by negative thoughts and feelings of hopelessness. He isolated himself from his friends and family and spent most of his time alone in his room. He also developed a drug addiction that worsened his condition.
Lory Del Santo said that she tried everything to help her son, but he refused to accept any form of therapy or support. He told her that he wanted to die and that nothing could change his mind. He also asked her not to blame herself for his decision, as he said it was his own choice.
A Tragic Family History
Loren Del Santo was not the only child of Lory Del Santo and Eric Clapton who died tragically. He had a half-brother, Conor Clapton, who was born in 1986 and died in 1991, when he was only four years old. Conor fell from the 53rd floor of a New York apartment building, where he was staying with his mother, while a cleaner had left a window open. His death was a devastating blow for both his parents, who had separated shortly before the accident.
Eric Clapton wrote the famous song “Tears in Heaven” as a tribute to his son, expressing his grief and pain. Lory Del Santo also suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after losing her first child. She said that she felt like she was “buried alive” and that she could not cope with the reality.
Lory Del Santo also had another son, who was born prematurely in the 1990s and died after two weeks due to an infection. She did not reveal his name or any other details about him, as she said it was too painful to talk about.
A Legacy of Love
Despite the tragedy and sorrow that marked his life, Loren Del Santo was also remembered by his loved ones as a kind, gentle, and talented person. He had a passion for music, like his father, and played several instruments. He also loved animals and nature and cared deeply for the environment.
His mother said that he was a “beautiful soul” who had a lot of potential and dreams. She said that she hoped that he had found peace and happiness in heaven, where he could be reunited with his brothers and his father, who died in 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.
She also said that she wanted to honor his memory by raising awareness about mental health issues and suicide prevention. She said that she wanted to help other people who were suffering from similar conditions as her son and to offer them hope and support.
She said that she believed that her son’s death was not in vain, but rather a message of love and compassion for humanity. She said that she hoped that his story would inspire others to cherish life and to seek help when they needed it. She said that she loved him with all her heart and that he would always be in her thoughts.
