'CARDIO COLLAPSE'
Taylor Hawkins’ heart was DOUBLE normal size after he binged on cocktail of ten types of drugs, autopsy reportedly finds
TAYLOR Hawkins' heart was twice the normal size when he collapsed with chest pains after a drugs binge, investigators have revealed.
The Foo Fighters drummer, 50, is said to have had traces of ten different drugs in his system when he died at a luxury hotel in Colombia on Friday.
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At an autopsy, forensic experts are said to have discovered his heart weighed "at least 600 grams", double the average for a man his age.
A heavier-than-normal heart can be associated with cardiac diseases and heart failure.
Investigators concluded the rocker suffered "cardiovascular collapse" after overdosing on heroin and a cocktail of other substances, local media reported.
A urine sample also contained marijuana, antidepressants and benzodiazepines - psychoactive drugs known as benzos - and opioids, according to Colombia’s Attorney General’s office.
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A statement said today: “Colombia’s National State Prosecution Service can confirm the following after the initial autopsy on the body of Taylor Hawkins.
"That in the toxicology test on Taylor Hawkins’ urine ten types of substances were preliminarily found, including marijuana, 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 National State Prosecution Service will continue with its investigation and reveal the results obtained as part of this investigation as appropriate."
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The Secretariat of Health had issued an earlier statement confirming the drummer had sparked a medical emergency after suffering “chest pains" leading to his death at age 50.
It came amid reports in local media that drugs had been found in the hotel room of the star.
Police who entered Hawkins' hotel room told prosecutors that they saw a "white powder" in the room along with a few opened alcoholic drinks, according to Colombian journalist .
The tragedy forced the Foo Fighters to pull out of a gig in Bogota that night and cancel their South America tour.
The other band members – Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee – told fans the shocking news on Twitter.
The band said: "The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins.
"His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever.
"Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time."
Earlier the Picnic Stereo Fest – a major music festival in Bogota – said the Foo Fighters would not be able to take to the stage.
It tweeted: "It is with a broken heart that we are here to tell you some very sad news.
"Due to a very serious medical situation, Foo Fighters will not be able to perform tonight and have canceled the rest of their South American tour."
Shocked fans gathered outside the Casa Medina hotel north of the capital Bogota on Friday night as a coroner's ambulance took away his body.
'Live fast die young'
Previously, Taylor spoke openly about his battle with drugs and revealed he once overdosed on heroin in 2001.
He said in 2018: "I was partying a lot. I wasn't a junkie per se, but I was partying. There was a year where the partying just got a little too heavy.
"Thank God on some level this guy gave me the wrong line with the wrong thing one night and I woke up going, 'What the f**k happened?' That was a real changing point for me."
And last year in an interview with , he said: “I used to do a lot of f***ing drugs. You get the work done."
He continued while cryptically speaking of "living fast and dying young": “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 bulls*** 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.
"I was heading down a road that was going to lead to even worse paths. Whether someone’s sober, or they like a glass of wine with dinner, or they want a bottle of Jägermeister before they go onstage, or they like to smoke doobies all day long, everyone has their own path, and I took it too far.
"I’m glad it got knocked on the head at that point. I wouldn’t take anything away that I’ve done or been through either, because it’s all part of the trip and the journey.
"I’m trying to be as candid as I can be. I go mountain biking now.”
Taylor joined the Foo Fighters in 1997 after they lost their original drummer William Goldsmith.
He also played the drums with some other prolific artists in his career.
He drummed with Alanis Morisette as she toured at the height of her career in the 90s.
Later he thanked her for his "big break", adding: "I’d be delivering pizza if it wasn’t for her."
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While with the band, Taylor started a side project called Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.
The musician leaves behind wife Alison Hawkins, whom he married in 2005, and children Oliver, 16, Annabelle, 13 and Everleigh, eight.
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