Hulk Hogan, the iconic WWE star, died of a suspected cardiac arrest at the age of 71 on Thursday morning. A source close to his family revealed that the wrestler, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, knew he had a very 'weak heart' and had grown increasingly frail at his mansion in Clearwater, Florida.
According to the insider, Hogan suffered from shortness of breath, tired easily, lost a significant amount of weight, and was on oxygen during his final weeks. The source added that he spent time trying to mend feuds with estranged loved ones, not wanting to leave anything unsaid.
The 911 call into Hogan's death was made at 9:51am, with the operator requesting emergency crew for a cardiac arrest. Paramedics performed CPR for 30 minutes before transporting him to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17am local time. Police confirmed no foul play was suspected, though the official cause of death has not yet been released.
Hogan had undergone complex neck surgery in June—a four-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion. His wife, Sky Daily, 45, said the operation affected his vocal cords and required breathing and feeding tubes. She denied rumours of a coma, stating his heart was strong. Two days before his death, his manager Jimmy Hart wrote on social media that Hogan was 'doing great, doing phenomenal.'
In 2023, it was reported that Hogan was paralysed from the waist down after his 11th back surgery. Despite his health struggles, Hogan remained a global icon, headlining the first nine WrestleMania events and starring in films such as Rocky III and the reality series Hogan Knows Best.
