Dave Edmunds, the Welsh rock musician best known for his 1970 Christmas number one hit 'I Hear You Knocking', is reportedly fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a major cardiac arrest. His wife, Cici, shared the news on Facebook, stating that Edmunds briefly 'died in my arms' before being revived by medics.
Cici, who lives with her husband in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, said she kept Edmunds alive by clearing his airways of fluid while a nurse performed heavy CPR. He was intubated and brought back to life but remains critically ill. She added that he 'very clearly has brain damage and severe memory loss' and that the risk of another cardiac arrest is high.
Edmunds, born in Cardiff, first rose to fame as the frontman of the blues rock band Love Sculpture, which scored a top five hit in 1968 with a cover of Khachaturian's 'Sabre Dance'. After the band split, he launched a successful solo career, with 'I Hear You Knocking' selling over three million copies and reaching number three in the US.
Throughout the 1970s, Edmunds enjoyed further top ten hits including 'Baby I Love You', 'Born to Be With You', and 'Girl Talk'. He also worked as a music producer with artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Stray Cats, Status Quo, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and collaborated with Jeff Lynne's ELO on his 1983 album 'Information'. In 1992 and 2000, he toured as a member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.
Cici concluded her post by asking fans for their 'prayers and good wishes', acknowledging that Dave faces a long journey ahead if he survives. She said she believes she has PTSD from the experience but expressed gratitude for the support from kind-hearted people.
