Tom Petty’s Wife, Daughter Confirm Cause of Death
Since Tom Petty’s sudden passing in October 2017, an exact cause of death has not been released to the public until today (January 19) when Petty’s widow and daughter shared the final analysis from Medical Examiner – Coroner’s office.
In a statement, Dana and Adria Petty wrote, “We were informed of their final analysis that Tom Petty passed away due to an accidental drug overdose as a result of taking a variety of medications.” They mentioned Tom Petty “suffered from many serious ailments including emphysema, knee problems and most significantly a fractured hip.”
Petty was battling the fractured hip injury through the entirety of his final tour with the Heartbreakers, and as the tour progressed the fracture evolved into a “full on break,” and Fentanyl patches were among the pain medications he was prescribed.
“We feel confident that this was, as the coroner found, an unfortunate accident,” wrote Dana and Adria Petty. As a family we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives. Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.”
TMZ reports that the L.A. County Coroner reported Tom Petty was on the following medications: Fentanyl patches, oxycodone (Oxycontin), temazepam (Restoril), alprazolam (Xanax), citalopram (Celexa), acetyl fentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl.
Dana and Adria Petty full statement reads as follows:
“Our family sat together this morning with the Medical Examiner – Coroner’s office and we were informed of their final analysis that Tom Petty passed away due to an accidental drug overdose as a result of taking a variety of medications.
Unfortunately Tom’s body suffered from many serious ailments including emphysema, knee problems and most significantly a fractured hip.
Despite this painful injury he insisted on keeping his commitment to his fans and he toured for 53 dates with a fractured hip and, as he did, it worsened to a more serious injury.
On the day he died he was informed his hip had graduated to a full on break and it is our feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his over use of medication.
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.
As a family we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives. Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.
On a positive note we now know for certain he went painlessly and beautifully exhausted after doing what he loved the most, for one last time, performing live with his unmatchable rock band for his loyal fans on the biggest tour of his 40 plus year career. He was extremely proud of that achievement in the days before he passed.
We continue to mourn with you and marvel at Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ incredible positive impact on music and the world. And we thank you all for your love and support over the last months.
Thank you also for respecting the memory of a man who was truly great during his time on this planet both publicly and privately.
We would be grateful if you could respect the privacy of the entire Heartbreaker family during this difficult time.
Dana Petty and Adria Petty”
Erica Banas is rock/classic rock news blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
