Tom Petty’s Cause of Death Revealed
Tom Petty died in October at the age of 66. Now, the cause of his passing has been determined. The toxicology report shows that he died from an accidental drug overdose from a variety of pain medications—including Fentanyl patches, TMZ reports and a statement from the Petty family confirms. He was being treated for a number of health issues, including emphysema, knee problems, and a fractured hip. “We knew before the report was shared with us that he was prescribed various pain medications for a multitude of issues including Fentanyl patches and we feel confident that this was, as the coroner found, an unfortunate accident,” his wife Dana and daughter Adria wrote in the statement.
Petty’s family also wrote that they hoped the news could “spark a further discussion” on “deadly” pain medications. “As a family we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy an necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives,” they continued, “Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.” Read their full statement.
Petty was rushed to the hospital on October 1, 2017 after going into cardiac arrest. He was placed on life support, but later removed after it was determined he had no brain activity. In the wake of his death, several artists shared his influence and impact on their lives and careers, including Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, and Ezra Koenig. The National later covered his song “Damaged By Love,” while Coldplay and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck covered “Free Fallin’.” Dylan also paid tribute to Petty with a rendition of “Learning to Fly.”
Read “Remembering Tom Petty, An American Rock Institution” on the Pitch.
