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US rocker Tom Petty is reportedly clinging to life in a southern California hospital after conflicting reports he had died.
Key points:
- Tom Petty is "clinging to life" after a cardiac arrest
- The American rocker performed with The Heartbreakers and released three solo albums
- LAPD apologised for information it passed on to some media outlets
CBS News, citing Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), had earlier reported Petty, 66, had died. The LAPD later said on Twitter it had, "no information about the passing of singer Tom Petty. Initial information was inadvertently provided to some media sources".
Celebrity website TMZ.com, citing unidentified sources, later reported Petty was not expected to live much longer but was "still clinging to life".
Representatives for the singer did not return calls for comment or confirmation on Petty's condition.
TMZ.com earlier said Petty was rushed to hospital on Sunday night after being found unconscious, not breathing and in cardiac arrest. The website said he had been placed on life support, and that his family had a do not resuscitate order.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said it had responded to a call in Malibu on Sunday and had transported a male to the hospital. A spokeswoman gave no further details.
Rock singer Petty, best known for hits like Free Fallin', Learning To Fly, Don't Come Around Here No More and American Girl, was on a 40th anniversary tour of the United States with his band The Heartbreakers, playing three dates in September at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Petty rose to fame when he formed The Heartbreakers in 1976. He also released three solo albums.
The legendary rocker — who was born in Florida and has sold more than 80 million records worldwide — tweeted just days ago thanking his fans for their support over the past 40 years.
Police deny releasing information
LAPD said its spokespeople did not provide information CBS News used to report the rocker had died.
Officer Tony Im said the LAPD did not respond to any incident involving the rocker. CBS had amended its story, and Variety also retracted its obituary, which cited an unnamed source confirming Petty's death.
"It was not our office, definitely not," Mr Im said.
"If it's not a police matter, our public information office does not comment on stuff like that."
CBS issued a statement maintaining it, "reported information obtained officially from the LAPD about Tom Petty".
"The LAPD later said it was not in a position to confirm information about the singer," the statement said.
Coronial officials said they had not received a report of Petty's death. Fire officials said they responded to an emergency call for a man experiencing a cardiac arrest on the block where Petty lives in Malibu on Sunday night, but could not confirm it was the rocker who was taken to a local hospital.
The reports led to the scheduling of a memorial at Petty's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but that was cancelled.
Reports of Petty's death also prompted an outpouring of grief on Twitter, where he was the top worldwide trending topic.
Musicians such as Juliette Lewis, Courtney Love, Talib Kweli, Kid Rock, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Stanley and Lin-Manuel Miranda were among those posting remembrances.
AP
Topics: music, arts-and-entertainment, united-states
First posted