Hulk Hogan’s sickness-plagued final weeks have been detailed after the iconic wrestler died of cardiac arrest aged 71.
A source close to Hogan’s family told Daily Mail the WWE star knew full well he was suffering from a very ‘weak heart’ in his final weeks.
The source said: ‘He was suffering from shortness of breath, got tired easily, had lost a lot of weight and was on oxygen’ as his life ebbed away at his mansion in Clearwater, Florida.
But there was happiness and contentment during Hogan’s final weeks too.
The wrestler, whose real name was Terry Bollea, spent time trying to heal rifts with estranged loved ones because he knew it would be his final chance to do so.
‘He had a lot of scores to settle. Didn’t want to leave anything unsaid,’ Daily Mail’s source said.
The sheer volume of tributes paid to Hogan in the hours since his passing suggest that he had far more friends than enemies.
On Thursday morning, EMTs rushed to Hogan’s home after a 911 call said the legend was suffering from serious heart problems.
He was stretchered away onto an ambulance and taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The shock death comes just weeks after Hogan’s wife Sky denied rumors he was on his deathbed in a coma – and claimed his heart was ‘strong’ after he underwent a routine neck surgery.
She said he had been recovering from a major four-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), which she described as ‘an intense surgery with a long and layered healing process’.
Hogan, worth an estimated $25mn at the time of his death, is survived by his third wife Sky, children Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34, who he shared with first wife Linda Claridge, and two grandchildren.
Hogan divorced Claridge in 2009 before marrying Jennifer McDaniel in 2010. They separated in 2021 before he married Sky in 2023.
After news of Hogan’s passing made headlines, tributes from across the sporting and entertainment worlds flooded in.
The wrestling icon’s great rival Ric Flair sounded shocked when reached by Daily Mail on Thursday, before describing him as an ‘incredible athlete, talent, friend and father’ on social media.
President Donald Trump was also among those who paid tribute, writing on Truth Social: ‘We lost a great friend today, the “Hulkster.”‘
‘Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.’
‘He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive,’ Trump wrote, praising his ‘absolutely electric speech’ from the Republican 2024 National Convention.
Linda McMahon, the US Secretary of Education and WWE co-founder, remembered star Hulk Hogan in a social media tribute.
‘I had the privilege of knowing and working with @HulkHogan for over 40 years,’ she said.
‘Hulk was a dear friend and member of our WWE family. His legacy in and out of the ring will always be remembered. He was one of a kind!
‘My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, and all of his fans.’
And WWE co-founder Vince McMahon also posted on X honoring wrestling legend Hulk Hogan.
‘The world lost a treasure today. Hulk Hogan was the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME, someone who was loved and admired around the world,’ McMahon said.
‘He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon.
‘His grit and unbridled thirst for success were unparalleled – and made him the consummate performer. He gave everything he had to the audience whom he appreciated, respected and loved.’
Following Hogan’s death, the chilling audio of the 911 call revealed the moment emergency services raced to his home.
911 operators could be heard dispatching paramedics to the scene as they noted the matter pertained to a cardiac arrest in the disturbing audio of the call, which was obtained by TMZ shortly after the devastating news of his passing broke.
A ‘slew of police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan’s home’ where the wrestling legend was reportedly stretchered out and placed in an ambulance, according to the outlet.
In a video shared to social media, responders were caught desperately trying to save Hogan’s life as they transported him out of his home. They appeared to be administering CPR as they carried him to the ambulance.
Clearwater Police Major Nate Burnside explained at a press conference that Hogan was ‘experiencing a serious medical-related issue’ when they arrived.
Officials reportedly responded to the call to emergency services at 9:51am. Hogan was treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue personnel before being taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11.17am.
‘The Clear Police Department is conducting a death investigation which is standard in these types of cases. There are no signs of foul play or suspicious activity related to this call for service at this time,’ Clearwater Police Major Nate Burnside said on Thursday.
‘The last few months of Hogan’s life had a lot more ups than downs,’ an insider told the Daily Mail in the wake of his death.
‘There was a little strain with his daughter and their relationship that had taken quite the emotional toll, but he always thought he would eventually be able to rectify that.’
Hogan had gone eight years without speaking to his daughter Brooke, 36.
The exact details of the estrangement were never fully revealed, but the Daily Mail understands that Hogan believed they would reconcile.
‘He was still extremely close to his son,’ our source added. ‘It is a surprise and doesn’t feel real at all to his family and friends.’
It is also understood that his sudden death has left those closest to him in shock.
Hogan’s career spent in the wrestling ring also took a toll on him – leaving the athlete with ‘the body of a 140-year-old man,’ one inside source told the Daily Mail in April.
