Rock icon Tom Petty “clinging to life” after cardiac arrest
UPDATE: Tom Petty has died after suffering a cardiac arrest, his family confirmed, hours after multiple news outlets retracted unconfirmed reports of his death.
“On behalf of the Tom Petty family we are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty,” a family statement said.
“On behalf of the tom petty family we are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty,’’ the statement from Tom Dimitriades, longtime manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers says.
Rock icon Tom Petty is reportedly clinging to life at a Los Angeles hospital after being found in “full cardiac arrest” at his home in Malibu.
The legendary Free Fallin’ rocker, 66, was rushed to hospital and put on life support after being found unconscious and not breathing, reports TMZ.
A number of media outlets earlier reported the singer as dead with a source confirming the news to Variety.
However, it is believed that Petty’s loved ones made the decision to switch of life support after he showed no signs of brain activity and emergency crew were not able to find a pulse.
He is not expected to live much longer.
Petty burst onto the scene in 1976 with his band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their hits included I Won’t Back Down, American Girl, Runnin’ Down A Dream and Free Fallin’.
Petty had just wrapped up a tour with the band celebrating their 40th anniversary.
Speaking to Rolling Stone late last year, Petty revealed the tour would likely be “the last big one”.
“We’re all on the backside of our 60s,” he told the publication. “I have a granddaughter now I’d like to see as much as I can. I don’t want to spend my life on the road. This tour will take me away for four months. With a little kid, that’s a lot of time.”
The rock icon won 3 Grammys, earned 18 nominations, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.