Whitney Houston Died from Drowning, Says Coroner

Whitney Houston died of accidental drowning, ruled a coroner on Thursday, ending weeks of speculation on the cause of the death of the singer.

But the drug tests on the singer's body indicated that Houston was a chronic cocaine user and had heart disease.

The official cause of death was described as drowning and effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use by the Los Angeles County coroner's office in a statement. And no trauma or foul play was suspected, according to the coroner.

However the singer had used cocaine shortly before the accidental drowning, coroner spokesman Craig Harvey told reporters.

The toxicology tests returned results for a variety of medicines including marijuana, anti-anxiety drug, muscle relaxant and a drug for allergy treatment.

"We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure," the Associated Press quoted Houston's sister-in-law and manager, Patricia Houston, as saying.

Houston was found dead in the bathtub of her Los Angeles hotel room on the eve of the Grammy Awards on 11 February.

Houston was buried in a New Jersey cemetery next to her father.