Hulk Hogan was reportedly battling several serious illnesses before the WWE legend passed away last week at 71. When 911 responders rushed to the scene, his initial cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest. But on July 31, medical documents obtained by Page Six confirmed that Hogan, real name Terrence Gene Bollea, officially died of acute myocardial infarction. What most didn’t know is that he had also been privately battling leukemia. His death came just days after rumours of his failing health began swirling, triggered by a neck surgery he underwent in May. At the time, his wife, Sky Daily, had quickly dismissed all the claims.
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Hulk Hogan’s cause of death revealed
Hulk Hogan, the wrestling icon, passed away on July 24 after suffering an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack that happens when blood flow to the heart suddenly stops and causes serious damage.) He had also been battling leukemia (a type of blood cancer) and was dealing with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AFib), which causes the heartbeat to become irregular and, at times, dangerously fast. The leukemia, specifically CLL, is a form that attacks white blood cells called lymphocytes. “[Hogan] was experiencing a serious medical-related issue,” the Clearwater Police Department told NY Post in a statement. On the morning of his death, police and medics rushed to his home in Clearwater, Florida, after a 9:51 a.m. call. First responders tried CPR for 30 minutes before taking him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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The Pinellas County Forensic Science Centre ruled Hogan’s death “natural,” with no foul play involved. A spokesperson later said, “I am not aware when Mr. Bollea will be cremated, only that we received a request for cremation approval.” This wasn’t the kind of ending anyone saw coming. Just weeks before, Hogan was still turning up at karaoke nights, posing with fans, and posting on Instagram like nothing was wrong.
People close to Hogan, like longtime friend Jimmy Hart, were caught completely off guard with the sudden announcement of his passing. Hart said they spoke just the night before, and everything seemed fine. Another close friend, Eric Bischoff, revealed Hogan didn’t want people to see him in his weak state. “He was embarrassed,” Bischoff said. “But he was still the same guy.”
Despite all the health talk in recent months, coma rumours, near-death whispers, his wife, Sky Daily, had tried to shut it all down earlier in July. She said Hogan had undergone major neck surgery in May and was still recovering. But after his passing, old claims from his former friend Todd Clem came crawling back. On The Bubba the Love Sponge Show, Clem said, “Allegedly Hogan is in the hospital and I’ve heard people say that he might not make it.” Truth is, Hogan’s heart was giving up, and his body had taken a brutal beating over the years. He’d gone through 25 surgeries in just a decade.
