The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation into Kirk's death. The subsequent autopsy and inquiry revealed that Kirk had a previous heart condition and could have had the heart attack at any time but was more likely to have triggered owing to the physical nature of professional wrestling and found for a verdict of death by natural causes. Pathologist Dr Norman Ball testified that Kirk had had six unnoticed minor heart attacks prior to the one that killed him and likely had the fatal attack while he was standing prior to receiving the splashdown, stating "It is likely he was already dead when he fell to the canvas", thus clearing Big Daddy of any responsibility for Kirk's death.