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Mary Jane Thomas's cause of death revealed: Hank Williams Jr's wife's lung was punctured during surgery

Hank Williams Jr's wife Mary Jane Thomas's lung collapsed after a fat transfer surgery went wrong

Update: While earlier there was only speculation that Mary Jane Thomas may have died of a complication from a medical procedure, a coroner has now revealed the real reason four months after her death. Musician Hank Williams Jr's wife who died on March 22 is reported to have suffered a collapsed lung that was punctured during elective surgery the day before, states a report from the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner quoted by PEOPLE. The cause of death has been listed as accidental.

The autopsy report listed the cause of death as "pneumothorax due to perforated parietal pleura during liposuction with autologous fat reinjection procedure." She was apparently undergoing a fat removal procedure a day before her death. Thomas' lung collapsed after her surgeon is said to have punctured the membrane while completing the fat transfer as part of a breast lift following a breast implant removal. The former model, who lived in Nashville, had traveled to Jupiter, Florida for the liposuction procedure, as well as to remove previous breast implants at Bafitis Plastic Surgery.

After her surgery on March 21, she was taken to a recovery facility and reportedly Thomas was "sitting up in bed, speaking normally" but the next day she "suddenly" became unresponsive.

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Country music star Hank Williams Jr's wife Mary Jane Thomas died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 22. Reports suggest that the 58-year-old may have suffered a complication from a medical procedure, which led to her death.

Thomas was transported from Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Jupiter, Florida, to a local hospital on Tuesday at around 5 pm local time. A spokesperson for the area’s police department told Fox News Digital that she was pronounced dead there. Williams and Thomas were married for about 30 years. They tied the knot in 1990 after meeting at one of Williams’ shows in Washington state in 1985. Mary Jane appeared alongside Williams Jr when he was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

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The pair raised two children together, daughter Katie Williams-Dunning and son Samuel Williams. In 2020, Williams-Dunning tragically died in a car accident in Tennessee, while her husband, Tyler Dunning, who was also in the vehicle, survived with critical injuries. Thomas was Williams' third wife, and he has three other children from previous marriages.

In a statement to PEOPLE, son Sam, 24, said of his deceased mother, "My dear Mama Mary Jane was a beautiful soul who forever affected everyone who knew her. She had a smile and presence that lit up every room and she never met a stranger she didn't befriend. Her spirit was gentle and giving. She could take down a ten-point buck and fix dinner for her grandchildren at the same time! Now she gets to radiate from above with my sister Katherine Diana right by her side."

"She grew up competing in baton and cheerleading and was one of Hawaiian Tropic's top models. My father fell in love with the Daytona Beach beauty the minute he set eyes on her in the early '80s. They went on to live the most powerful love story of travel and hunting and raising a family. She is survived by my father, her two parents Ramona and Bill, her brother Andy, her sister Angela, myself and her three grandchildren: Beau Weston, Tennyson Hiram and Audrey Jane. Rest in peace Mama, I will always be the son of Mary Jane," he added.

Sam released his debut country album 'Glasshouse Children' last year after his sister's death. "I definitely broke and went through a really, really, really hard time," he told PEOPLE while talking about his sister's death. "I'm still climbing out of it. But it's the 'still climbing' part that is the most important. That'll just always be a big part of my story. I hope that [when I do write about it], that can be inspiring to other people, too."

Condolences poured in on social media after news of Thomas' death surfaced. "words just can’t describe how bad i feel for the williams family. it’s been a devastating couple of years. please say a prayer for this family. unreal," one user wrote. "Condolences to Hank Williams Jr, who is mourning the loss of his 58-year-old Wife, Mary Jane Thomas who he met at a concert. They were married since 1990," wrote another.

"My thoughts are prayers are with ⁦@HankJr and his family after the sudden death of his wife," one user commented, while another said, "Hank Williams Jr.'s Wife Mary Jane Thomas Dead at 58 - TMZ. Heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with HankJr. and all of the Williams family in their loss of Mary Jane Thomas-Williams."