Taylor Hawkins: Foo Fighters' drummer dies aged 50

[dowcat]

Taylor Hawkins' heart weighed DOUBLE that of men his age when he died: Foo Fighters drummer suffered 'cardiovascular collapse' in Colombia hotel room after binging on cocktail of drugs including heroin, marijuana, and opioids, investigators say


Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead in hotel room in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday

Forensic experts say autopsy revealed his heart weighed 'at least 600 grams' - double the average size

Investigators concluded Hawkins suffered 'cardiovascular collapse' after binging on a cocktail of drugs

Foo Fighters just completed host of tour dates in South America and were due to appear at Grammy's in April

The band said it was 'devastated by the untimely loss' and asked for the privacy of his family to be respected

Foo Fighters were on tour in South America and the band had played in San Isidro, Argentina, last Sunday


Taylor Hawkins' heart weighed double that of men his age as an autopsy finds the Foo Fighters drummer suffered a 'cardiovascular collapse' after binging on a cocktail of drugs including heroin, marijuana, and opioids, investigators have said.



Forensic experts are said to have discovered it weighed 'at least 600 grams', double the average of 300 to 350 grams, during an examination following his shock death at a luxury hotel in Colombian capital Bogota on Friday.

Investigators have concluded the 50-year-old suffered cardiovascular collapse after binging on a cocktail of drugs, respected Colombian news magazine Semana reported.



It also said authorities had confirmed the Foo Fighters drummer had overdosed on heroin mixed with antidepressants and benzodiazepines which are psychoactive drugs known as benzos.



Colombia’s Attorney General’s office (AGO) has already confirmed an initial autopsy carried out on Saturday revealed traces of 10 different drugs in Hawkins’ urine, including opioids which can range from heroin to fentanyl and morphine.



In a statement, it also revealed marihuana and antidepressants had been detected.



Well-known Colombian journalist Luis Carlos Velez, the Bogota-based director of radio station FM, said earlier today that a police officer who entered Hawkins' room at the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina had told prosecutors he saw a 'cocaine-like' white powder.



However, the AGO did not mention cocaine in its post-autopsy statement.



Concerns about the drummer's health first arose on Friday night when he began complaining of chest pains prior to the band's headline performance at the Estereo Picnic Festival in Bogota.



His condition subsequently deteriorated and efforts to revive him by a private doctor and city emergency responders failed.



In its statement released late on Saturday, Colombia’s AGO said: 'Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead in a hotel room on Friday in Bogota.



'After concluding an initial forensic examination of the body the AGO would like to communicate the following:



'1) Preliminary results of the urine toxicology test indicate the presence of 10 different substances: THX (Marihuana), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids among others.



'2) The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues to conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death.



'3) The AGO will continue to investigate and will duly inform the findings of forensic examinations in due time.'



Taylor Hawkins (left), daughter Annabelle Hawkins (centre) and wife Alison Hawkins (right) pictured together at the Los Angeles Premiere of Studio 666 last month




Hawkins, a father-of-three, suffered a heroin overdose in London in 2001 that left him in a come for around a week.



In an interview last year he admitted: 'Everyone has their own path and I took it too far. I was partying in London one night, and I mistakenly did something and it changed everything.



'I believed the bull***t myth of live hard and fast, die young.



'I’m not here to preach about not doing drugs, because I loved doing drugs, but I just got out of control for a while and it almost got me.'



It follows the results of an initial autopsy in which the AGO said it found '10 types of substances' in a toxicology test.



The statement added: 'Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office can confirm the following after the initial autopsy on the body of Taylor Hawkins.



'That in the toxicology test on Taylor Hawkins’ urine 10 types of substances were preliminarily found, including marihuana, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids.



'The National Institute of Forensic Medicine is continuing its medical studies to be able to completely clarify the facts that led to Taylor Hawkins death.



'Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office will continue with the investigation and reveal the results obtained as part of this investigation as appropriate.'



One unconfirmed local report said several glasses were found inside the drummer's room, sparking speculation he had been entertaining guests before his death.


Colombia's State Prosecution Service, in its first official comments on the tragedy, confirmed: 'As soon as we were made aware of the death of foreign national Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer, who was staying at a hotel in the north of Bogota, a team of prosecutors and investigators was mobilised to deal with urgent matters and support the investigation.'

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10656683/Taylor-Hawkins-heart-weighed-DOUBLE-men-age-died-Colombia-hotel-room.html

[sputnik]

it's not every day a rock star dies in colombia, i'm sure they were scrambling to get all the testing and autopsy done, and cut through a lot of red tape to release the preliminary autopsy results.


i hope he at least had the high/trip of his life before he died. 

[brookie]

Sounds like he went out with a bang anyway.

[dilligaf]

If I died today, you would find THC, Amphetamine, Muscle Relaxers, and a hypnotic used for sleep in my system, really would not mean squat since every single substance is prescribed/recommended by a DR. In this fellow's case, I am going to go with fentanyl for the kill, and years of drug abuse contributing to organ damage weakening his ability to continue to party hard. In other words, no shock.

[coppercatseye]

They certainly did release the autopsy results quickly! Very sad for his family and for the band.

[twitchy]

Sad. I loved when they trolled the Westboro Batshit Church.
Also, his wife's face is going to be in my nightmares.

[emkat]

I'm assuming they have a huge insurance policy being on tour. Would that not include some kind of medical exam for the band? Maybe not...I don't know. Seems like a heart twice it's size would be picked up on. Even just by his personal doctor.

[lindsaywhit]

^^^ Interesting point. They certainly have them for movie/tv actors, directors, etc. Hmmm, come to think of it, wouldn't Rust have some insurance?

[holly]

Mar 27, 2022 22:01:48 GMT twitchy said:

Sad. I loved when they trolled the Westboro Batshit Church.
Also, his wife's face is going to be in my nightmares.

She looks very “Real Housewives of (insert city here)”

[gruser1]

tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines

Sounds like depression and the other substances could have been a way to self medicate?

I wish these details had not been made public. Feels disrespectful and hurtful for his family (I'd say the same about any other celebrity even though I liked this one a lot more than most).

[trixie]

^ I know. I didn't really want to know that Tom Petty OD'ed. Or Prince. Or River Phoenix. And others. It just pains me to think they had so much more living to do, and it ended like that. But it is what it is.

[charmedhour]

Mar 27, 2022 20:05:00 GMT dilligaf said:

If I died today, you would find THC, Amphetamine, Muscle Relaxers, and a hypnotic used for sleep in my system, really would not mean squat since every single substance is prescribed/recommended by a DR. In this fellow's case, I am going to go with fentanyl for the kill, and years of drug abuse contributing to organ damage weakening his ability to continue to party hard. In other words, no shock.

I'm thinking he did some kind of speedball since cocaine and heroin were in his system.  It sounds like he had pre-existing cardiovascular issues, probably from years of drugs use/abuse and adding a stimulant and depressant along with other medications that also carry some cardio risk, it was perfect storm.

[trixie]

Fentanyl is some scary shit, and they're putting it in heroin, cocaine and fake prescription drugs. I just saw something on the news that 2 million bogus pills were confiscated last year. People are buying oxycodone or hydrocodone on the street not knowing it's been laced with fentanyl.

[no]

what exactly is the point in lacing already gnarly drugs with fentanyl? I thought dealers wanted to keep their people coming back as much as possible, not immediately kill them off.

[albatross]

Apr 2, 2022 1:06:20 GMT no said:

what exactly is the point in lacing already gnarly drugs with fentanyl? I thought dealers wanted to keep their people coming back as much as possible, not immediately kill them off.

Apparently it's stronger and cheaper, so a dealer can mix it with a diluted heroin to give the same or greater affect. This article explains says that it costs about $2000-3000 to make a kilo of fentanyl, but $60,000 to make a kilo of heroin.