First Wives author dies after plastic surgery

[BERIGAN]

First Wives author dies after plastic surgery

Author Olivia Goldsmith who wrote The First Wives Club has died in the US after apparent complications following plastic surgery.

The 54-year-old, whose real name was Justine Rendal and whose novel became a 1996 hit film starring Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton, had been in a deep coma for more than eight days.

"We are saddened to announce the passing of Justine Rendal," said her lawyer Steven Mintz.

"It was her wish to donate organs to provide future life and comfort to others."

Mintz told People magazine that Goldsmith had checked herself into a New York clinic on January 7 for "personal, elective plastic surgery" and "something went wrong" during the administration of the anaesthesia.

She was then taken transferred to another hospital where she died yesterday.

"She clearly died from injuries associated with the anaesthesia problem," says Mintz. "It's very sad. The whole thing is just terrible."

Goldsmith recently completed two new novels - Dumping Billy and Casting Off - and was preparing to promote both this year. Dumping Billy is to be published in May.

"They are two of the strongest books she's ever written," her literary agent, Nick Ellison, told People.

"She is a woman who was coming back into a wonderful, wonderful place in her life."

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