The heart of a champion beats on...even in death
Synopsis
The incredible details of three-time heavyweight champion Ali’s final moments were made public by his daughter Hana in an emotional post on Twitter.
“Our hearts are literally hurting. But we are so happy daddy is free now. We all tried to stay strong and whispered in his ear, you can go now. We will be OK. We love you,” said Hana Ali, an author and a freelance writer.
“All of his organs failed but his HEART wouldn’t stop beating. For 30 minutes … his heart just kept beating. No-one had ever seen anything like it. A true testament to the strength of his Spirit and Will!” Hena wrote.
The 74-year-old Ali — known worldwide as “The Greatest” — passed away on late Friday at an Arizona hospital due to respiratory problems.
His official cause of death was septic shock due to “unspecified natural causes”, said the family spokesman Bob Gunnell.
The fighter had suffered for 35 years with Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed three years after his retirement in 1981.
Ali received a bevy of honours during his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian award of the US.
Stay on top of all the latest Sports News, including Cricket News, Football News, WWE News, and updates from Other Sports around the world. Get live scores, match highlights, player stats, and expert analysis of every major tournament. Download the Asianet News Official App from the Android Play Store and iPhone App Store to never miss a sporting moment and stay connected to the action anytime, anywhere.