( CNN ) -- This week 's death of Prince Charles ' brother-in-law , who passed away in New York City after injuring his head in a fall , was accidental , the city medical examiner 's office said Thursday . Mark Shand , brother of Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall , died from `` blunt impact head trauma with a skull fracture and subdural hematoma , '' according to Julie Bolcer , spokeswoman for the medical examiner . A subdural hematoma is a traumatic injury in which blood pools between two protective layers of the brain . Prince Charles ' official residence , Britain 's Clarence House , said Wednesday that Shand , 62 , died in a New York hospital after injuring his head in a fall on Tuesday night . `` The Duchess , The Prince of Wales and all her family members are utterly devastated by this sudden and tragic loss , '' the Clarence House statement read . The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge issued a statement that said the couple was saddened by the death . `` Their thoughts are with The Duchess of Cornwall and her family at this time , '' the statement said . The Elephant Family , a conservation group based in England , mourned the loss of its chairman and the `` head of our family . '' `` Mark Shand was a true force for conservation . He was both a legend and inspiration and above all our great friend , '' the organization said in a statement on its website . CNN profiled the charity , which was working to improve conditions for Asian elephants , in 2007 . Shand said he was trying to show owners and riders more humane ways to treat the animals . `` You ca n't stop a tradition that 's been going on for years , you can only help it , '' he said . His group also fought against poachers and the destruction of the elephants ' habitats . Shand also was the author of several books about elephants and his travels in Asia . One of those books , `` Queen of Elephants , '' was the source for a BBC documentary . People we lost in 2014 . CNN 's Yon Pomrenze , Shimon Prokupecz and Elizabeth Landers contributed to this story .
Medical examiner cites `` skull fracture and subdural hematoma '' in Mark Shand 's death . Shand , brother of Prince Charles ' wife , died Wedneday after falling and injuring his head . Shand was the chairman of a foundation that tried to save Asian elephants .