Exclusive

Casey Johnson's Trips to Emergency Room Frighteningly Common, Says Ex

In exclusive interview with E! News, Courtenay Semel shares details of the deceased heiress' frequent health problems, drug issues and that relationship with Tila Tequila

By Ken Baker, Megan Masters Jan 19, 2010 7:50 PMTags

Speculation continues to surround the sudden death of Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson, but former flame Courtenay Semel is now shedding light on the all-too-frequent health scares that plagued her once-girlfriend.

In an exclusive sit-down with E! News, Semel opens up about Johnson's lifetime battle with diabetes and its possible connection to her untimely passing. 

Semel describes how, mere days into their relationship, she faced the first of many terrifying medical incidents.

"We got to the house, and she's laying there, and she couldn't speak. Her eyes were closed; she was barely conscious..."

Semel continues: "I called 911 and was on the phone with the paramedics. Her doctor said to me, 'Courtenay, if you don't get her into the emergency room in the next 10 minutes, she could die.'

"And it was that moment when she said that to me, I realized if I ever lost this person, this would be the end of my life."

But even with the frequent trips to the emergency room, Semel believes drugs played a part in the heiress's death.

"I definitely think she was on drugs, 150 percent," she declares. "I cannot wait for that autopsy to come back, and if there's OxyContin in that autopsy..."

Last July, Johnson's family drew a line in the sand and forced their daughter to enroll in Cliffside Malibu rehab. She tried it, but it didn't stick.

"She actually did check herself in, finally, to rehab and wasn't able to stay for longer than a week," Semel says.

For more of Courtenay and Casey's emotional story, watch E! News tonight at 7 and 11:30 p.m. ET/PT.

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Who Was Casey Johnson? Her pictures tell her life story.