At around 8:30 am on 10 March 1988, Gibb's doctor walked in to his room and told him that more tests were needed, to which Gibb replied, "Fine". But later that day, he slumped into unconsciousness and died as a result of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle caused by a recent viral infection (a diagnosis supported by William Shell, a cardiologist who had previously treated Gibb[18]),[6] which was exacerbated by his years of cocaine abuse.[19] Robin Gibb said "he was also not eating properly and the lack of nutrition also damaged his heart", adding that the paranoia associated with cocaine abuse "shattered his confidence and he became scared of people."[17]