Neil Armstrong died on August 25, 2012, from complications following coronary bypass heart surgery. After the surgery, when nurses removed temporary pacemaker wires, he began to bleed internally around the heart, causing his blood pressure to drop. He was initially taken to a catheterization laboratory instead of directly to an operating room, which medical experts later identified as a critical error. Armstrong died about a week later due to these complications. His family later settled a medical malpractice claim with the hospital for $6 million, alleging negligent post-surgical care contributed to his death.