The postmortem examination of Prateek Yadav, the 38-year-old son of Mulayam Singh Yadav, has confirmed that he died from a massive pulmonary embolism that led to sudden cardiorespiratory failure.

The preliminary findings were issued by King George's Medical University on Wednesday, offering the clearest medical account yet of the circumstances surrounding his unexpected passing in Lucknow.

Doctors recorded the provisional cause of death as "cardiorespiratory collapse due to massive pulmonary thromboembolism", a condition caused by a major blood clot obstructing the arteries of the lungs. The report also documented six injuries on his body, all identified as antemortem.

Autopsy findings

The medical report noted that Yadav had wounds on his chest, under his right arm, and on his right forearm, elbow, and left wrist. It specified: "Injuries 1, 2, and 3 are about 5-7 days old. Injuries 4, 5, 6 are about one day old."

All injuries were categorised as having occurred before death. Forensic teams have preserved the heart, the clot-like material retrieved from the lungs, and viscera for additional histopathological and chemical analyses. Experts said these tests will help confirm whether any underlying disease or external factor played a role.

The forensic team has preserved key organs for detailed laboratory analysis. "The whole heart and pulmonary thromboembolic material were preserved in formalin for histopathological examination, and the viscera are preserved for chemical analysis," the report added.

Doctors also retained the clot-like material recovered from the lungs and sent viscera samples for chemical testing to rule out any additional medical or toxicological factors.

Rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival

According to hospital officials, Yadav's family transported him to Civil Hospital early Wednesday morning after his health deteriorated at home.

Civil Hospital director Dr GP Gupta told PTI that he was "brought dead", with staff performing standard procedures before informing authorities. The time of declaration was recorded as 5.55 am.

Yadav had long been under treatment for lung-related ailments and a history of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). He had also been admitted multiple times to Medanta Lucknow Hospital in recent years.

What is Pulmonary Thromboembolism?

A pulmonary thromboembolism occurs when a blood clot, most often originating in the legs, travels to the lungs and obstructs blood flow. Doctors explained that such a major blockage can cause respiratory and cardiac systems to collapse within minutes if not treated immediately.

Yadav had previously been placed on long-term blood thinners and was regularly monitored for DVT, a condition he had been managing for about five years under specialist supervision.

Yadav's wife, Aparna Yadav, was reportedly out of the city at the time of the incident.

The last rites will be held on Thursday at Pipra Ghat in Lucknow at 12:30 pm.

Who was Prateek Yadav?

Born in 1988, Yadav was the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav's second wife, Sadhana Gupta. Unlike most members of the extended political family, he kept a low public profile and stayed clear of electoral politics.

He completed an MBA at Leeds University and later pursued business interests in real estate and fitness. He also owned a gym in Lucknow and founded Jeev Aashray, dedicated to the rescue and care of animals. He also ran an NGO supporting homeless individuals.

In 2011, Yadav married Aparna Bisht, now Aparna Yadav, after an eight-year relationship. The couple had two children. Earlier this year, Yadav publicly accused Aparna of damaging family ties and affecting his mental health through an Instagram post. On 28 January, he announced that the couple had reconciled.

Aparna, initially associated with the Samajwadi Party, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2022, citing inspiration from women-centric policies of national and state leadership.

Although he maintained a distance from active politics, there was a moment when the party cadre pushed for his entry. In November 2012, some Samajwadi Party workers demanded he be fielded from Azamgarh in the 2014 general election. The proposal was ultimately shelved and he returned to his business interests.

Forensic tests awaited

Although the autopsy confirms pulmonary embolism as the immediate cause of death, officials emphasised that no final interpretation of the injuries or contributing medical conditions will be made until the laboratory and toxicology reports are completed.