Tom Petty Confirmed Dead Following Conflicting Reports

Photo: Chris Bubinas

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Oct 2, 2017

Iconic rocker Tom Petty was rushed to hospital Sunday evening (October 1) after reportedly being found unconscious and in full cardiac arrest.

TMZ reports that EMTs found 66-year-old Petty in his Malibu home and were able to get a pulse before admitting him to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. TMZ's sources say he was put on life support, adding that his current condition is unknown, though it was critical upon being found.

Petty and his band, the Heartbreakers, had recently wrapped a massive 40th anniversary tour, which also marked by a pair of career-spanning box sets.

UPDATE (10/2, 3:30 p.m. EDT): TMZ now reports that Petty had no brain activity upon his arrival at the hospital, and a decision was made to pull life support.

UPDATE (10/2, 4 p.m. EDT): The LAPD have confirmed to CBS News that Tom Petty is dead.

UPDATE (10/2, 5:40 p.m. EDT): There are now conflicting reports in regards to Petty's death, with CBS backtracking on its initial story that Petty had died earlier today. While first citing the LAPD confirming his passing, the police department has now stated it has not confirmed the musician's death to anyone, according to The Hollywood Reporter. TMZ also reports that Petty is "still clinging to life" but not expected to survive the day.

UPDATE (10/3, 12:52 a.m. EDT): Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers manager Tony Dimitriades has confirmed Petty's passing. "On behalf of the Tom Petty family, we are devastated to announce the untimely death of of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty," he said in a statement. "He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends."


Get Tom Petty's Greatest Hits on vinyl via MusicVaultz.

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