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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Molly Pike

Elvis' granddaughter Riley Keough becomes 'death doula' after brother Benjamin's suicide

Riley Keough has become a death doula after the suicide of her brother Benjamin.

The American Honey actor, who is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, announced the news on Instagram.

She said she took the training so she can help people come to terms with death, with death doulas specialising in end-of-life care.

Benjamin Keough died in July at the age of just 27 with a coroner confirming his cause of death to be suicide.

In her Instagram post, Riley, 31, shared a quote from the poet Rumi about healing the soul as she explained why she'd become a death doula.

Riley Keough has become a death doula after the suicide of her brother Benjamin (WireImage)
Riley and her late brother Benjamin Keough (Riley Keough/Instagram)

Rumi's quote said: "Be a lamp or a lifeboat or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal.

"Walk out of your house like a shepherd."

Riley captioned the post: "Today I finished my Death Doula training, on The Art of Death Midwifery training course by @sacred_crossings so I guess I'm an almost certified death doula now hehe.

She posted this quote from the poet Rumi (Instagram)

"And I just felt like writing such a deep thank you to this community who are teaching and training people in conscious dying and death work.

"We are taught that its a morbid subject to talk about.

"Or we're so afraid of it that we're unable to talk about it... then of course it happens to us, and we are very ill prepared.

Riley and Benjamin with their mother Lisa Marie Presley and younger siblings Finley and Harper (Lisa Marie Presley/Instagram)

"I think it's so important to be educated on conscious dying and death the way we educate ourselves on birth and conscious birthing.

"We prepare ourselves so rigorously for the entrance and have no preparation for our exit.

"So I'm so grateful for this community and to be able to contribute what I can."

Elvis Presley with his wife Priscilla and Lisa Marie when she was a baby (Michael Ochs Archives)

Benjamin died in Calabasas, California, a spokesman for his mum Lisa Marie confirmed in July last year.

Her manager said in a statement: "She is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter Riley

"She adored that boy. He was the love of her life."

*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch

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