Gene Hackman's heartbroken pal in tears on-air as friend exposes Betsy's fatal error

Speaking with some of his closest friends, correspondent Tara Brown reported on the tragedy of what happened in the last moments inside Santa Fe home, along with the final weeks of the Hollywood actor's life. Almost two decades ago, the veteran actor battling health issues sought a more private life with his wife Betsy Arakawa and moved to New Mexico. The pair lived a relatively more quiet lifestyle until two months ago when they were both found dead at their home alongside one of their beloved dogs. In the latest episode of 60 Minutes Australia, Tara examined their last moments as she spoke to friends who knew them well.

Doug Lanham, a close friend and former business partner, struggled to fight back tears as he addressed their deaths. Tom Allin, another close friend of the couple, shared his fears over Betsy's fatal error that led up to their demise. The final autopsy revealed Gene had "a 'history of congestive heart failure" and "severe chronic hypertensive changes, kidneys". The actor had a "bi-ventricular pacemaker" since April 2019 and "neurodegenerative features consistent with Alzheimer's Disease." Betsy, who died aged 65 a week before her husband, had contracted Hantavirus - a rat-borne disease - which is passed on through rodent urine, saliva and faeces.

The deadly virus presents as a bad flu, often leading to sudden respiratory failure.

Allin shared the fatal error Betsy had made amid her sudden illness, saying, "It was hard reading about it because at a certain point it's fatal".

He continued, "I mean, she needed care four to five days earlier-immediate care, emergency care-and unfortunately, she didn't realise the situation."

Meanwhile, Gene's good friend Doug broke down in tears as he discussed their friendship.

"[Gene] was a big prankster," he tearfully explained. "He just loved playing jokes on me. He was like a kid."

Addressing the Oscar-winning actor's relationship with his wife, Tom shared: "They were an example of a couple who really cared for each other. I think they really got a lot out of life.

"For us, it was a relationship with Gene and Betsy but not a movie star."

A report obtained by DailyMail.com indicated that Betsy had bookmarks on her computer suggesting that she had been researching medical conditions with symptoms similar to Covid-19 or the flu prior to her death.