Alas! Christopher Hitchens died many times before he died, both from his self-inflicted cancer, and from his dastardly, total sell-out on the Iraq War:

With griping, terminal cancer and flagrant dishonor visibly gnawing at him, he lied, over and over again, in his  advocacy of the villainous and piratical military adventure of the Iraq War.  And for what?  Well, interestingly enough, for the same reason that  so many intelligent people in this world, who should know better, remain faithful adherents, to the end,

of vicious, soul-destroying Abrahamic religions:  He could not bring himself to disbelieve the official lies of the Powers That Are.  Stupid story, quickly told, best soon forgotten.

It is also possible, of course--indeed, virtually certain--that he was bribed (by the aforesaid Existent Powers).  He was, after all, a hack.