Rock legend Tom Petty reportedly brain dead after heart attack
Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers seen at KAABOO 2017 at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Tom Petty is reportedly brain dead after being rushed to a hospital Sunday night after he was found unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest.
CBS News reported that Petty had died, citing the LAPD but the police department denied that it confirmed his death.
EMTs rushed to his Malibu home and were able to get a pulse. He was rushed to the UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and was later taken off of life support.
The entertainment site TMZ says the decision was made because he had no brain activity but reported that he was clinging to life.
Petty became famous with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1978 with "Breakdown" and his popularity remained strong with a string of award winning videos on MTV in the 80s.
Petty had just ended a 53-show tour to celebrate his band's 40th anniversary. The final show was at the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 25, 2017.