It just kind of seemed like Tom Petty would always be around, probably because he’s always been around. He sit the big time in the mid-‘70s and never left, providing the world with countless classics (with and without the Heartbreakers) like “Refugee,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “American Girl,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “Free Fallin,’” and more. His was one of the truly devastating celebrity deaths in recent memory because everybody liked Tom Petty. Millions were crushed when after a reported incident of cardiac arrest, he died on October 2, 2017, a couple weeks shy of his 67th birthday.
The medical examiner’s report has been released, and it reveals what actually killed Petty. According to the M.E., Petty died from a drug overdose. Unlike the usual rock star overdose deaths of overindulgence or partying too hard, what took don Petty was an overdose caused by taking multiple medications to treat a host of medical conditions that he was trying to keep at bay so he could tour and play for fans.
Petty’s wife, Dana, and daughter Adria, issued a lovely, eloquent, and kind statement explaining the report and revealing that Petty’s last days were more difficult than anyone could imagine.
Statement from Tom Petty's wife, Dana, and one of his daughters, Adria, on his cause of death. pic.twitter.com/8sm5cCxG1k
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 20, 2018
It reads:
Out 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 out feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his over use of medication.
We knew before the report as shared with us that he was prescribed various pain medications for a multiple of issues including Fentanyl patches and we feel confident that this as, 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 so not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.
People on Twitter got sad about Petty’s death all over again.
https://twitter.com/WindaWester/status/954528721163108352
A beautiful, sincere and dignified announcement 💔
— Lana Preston 💙🧢 (@lana_preston) January 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/HowFashionating/status/954516412726423552
https://twitter.com/skepticalwriter/status/954533035499700229
https://twitter.com/Sinixstar/status/954533255956566017
No words. RIP Tom Petty.
— Anti-SS Teenage Neighbor (@Anti_SS_69) January 20, 2018
Wow what an incredibly powerful and humble statement. 👏😢
— Lindsey Churm (@LindseyAnnChurm) January 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/aviarian/status/954536955957645312
https://twitter.com/DocTerryLorch/status/954511755673251841
https://twitter.com/rhondarealtor/status/954518920311947264