THURSDAY, June 25, 2009 (Health.com) — Iconic pop star Michael Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest and died on Thursday at the age of 50. Details of his death are still emerging, but friends and relatives say they have been concerned about Jackson’s use of prescription painkillers.
Brian Oxman, the Jackson family spokesman and attorney, told CNN that people surrounding Jackson were “enabling” him in his use of medications. Jackson had suffered a number of injuries, including a broken vertebra and a broken leg sustained in a fall on stage, Oxman said.
“If you think the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse, it is nothing in comparison to what we have seen taking place in Michael Jackson’s life,” Oxman told CNN.
“I do not know the extent of the medications that he was taking, but the reports that we have been receiving in the family is that it was extensive,” he said. “This is something which I feared and it is something that I warned about.”
Douglas Zipes, MD, a distinguished professor at the Indiana University Medical Center and past president of the American College of Cardiology, says that drug abuse can contribute to a cardiac arrest.
“Certainly drugs, in someone like Michael Jackson, have to considered,” he says. “We know that drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can trigger a cardiac arrest by themselves, and the summation of multiple drugs could ultimately result in a cardiac arrest.”
Jackson may have been underweight as well. He reportedly weighed 120 pounds in 2003. At 5’10” or 5’11” (reports vary), he would have had a body mass index of 16 or 17, and anything below 18.5 is considered underweight.
In recent months, friends and relatives had described Jackson as even more frail. Filmmaker Bryan Michael Stoller, who visited Jackson in April, told People, “I hugged him and it was like hugging bones.” And a fan who recently met Michael Jackson at a tour rehearsal reportedly wrote in an email this week, “He is a skeleton.”
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Comments (170)
The heart is not shocked back into rhythm. It is shocked to a standstill in the midst of disorganised electrical activity, in the hopes of the heart picking up its natural rhythm again. That is why, in real life, there is no point in shocking a patient in flatline.
Someone in cardiac arrest is already “dead”. Also, the person will absolutely collapse, lose consciousness and stop breathing. A heart attack is decreased blood to a part of the heart muscle that then causes “death” of part of the heart tissue. A reduction in blood flow to a part of the heart does not necessarily mean the person will have a heart attack.
Wow. I always thought they were the same thing. Thanks for explaining.
Josie @ Yum Yucky
As a survivor of both a heart attack and cardiac arrest, I am so glad that I had the EMTs, firemen, and hospital staff that I had. They didn’t give up on me, and I was flatlined for 9 to 12 minutes. Thank god for ex-husband who was CPR trained. He was the main reason I am able to send this e-mail. Thoughts and prayers to the Jackson family, especially Michael’s children.
Was this written by a medical professional? Everyone dies of cardiac arrest. It means the heart stopped beating. It’s not a cause of death.
Kristen–Usually a reduction in blood flow to the heart is caused by a coronary blockage, aka a “heart attack”. Heart attacks are the NUMBER ONE cause of cardiac arrest in adults. Survival of cardiac arrest in adults is very low because 1) people just don’t do CPR and 2) the patient needs defibrillation within 4-6 minutes IF the heart is saveable in the first place. The older a patient, the less likely they are to survive because of the damage done by the heart attack or medical problem that led to the cardiac arrest and because of the location of the blockage.
Kids have a higher survivability because their cardiac arrests are usually caused by respiratory problems, not a heart problem. I myself have had several patients that were victims of cardiac arrest, and the only survivor was a 5 year old who we fished out of a pool(drowning). I have yet to see bystanders doing effective CPR when it’s warranted.
CPR will not bring someone back by itself. Only defibrillation with a heart monitor or AED can do that.
Everyone should learn CPR. Always remember that the person is dead without your help, and you can’t make them any worse!
Victoria Miller
Firefighter/Paramedic, CPR instructor, medical student
I’m just a med student and have been a paramedic for 10 years, what do I know?
I think Heart attack and Cardiac Arrest is the same. Heart attack is the laymans term of Cardiac Arrest
Jacq – just think of someone having a cardiac arrest as someone who is technically dead. Think of a heart attack as bad chest pain. That is using layman’s terms!
wow its hard to hear he is gone
I am glad that someone knows the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest. I didn’t quite understand it myself. In actuality, one can just fall dead and if not resucitated by defibrillation,CPR really won’t help
I believe all people die not of cardiac arrest, but of lack of oxygen to the brain. The body can “live” as long as the brain lives — the heart can be artifically kept alive. Not so if the brain asphyxiates.
Tushae — not necessarily true!!!!! At the age of 36 I had a heart attack that resulted in cardiac arrest. If CPR is performed correctly, there is a chance of survival. I really learned a lot today from this websight and the medical staff at CNN. Everyone is different, and blanket statements are impossible to make.
My wife also had a cardiac arrest at age 50. Amazingly she survived and actually recovered fairly well but other complications since then have been more challenging. However in her case, she had a history of arrythmia, or an abnormal heartbeat where the electrical currents to the heart would get confused. Somehow in this one instance her heart stopped beating, or more precisely, went into a fast, weak, unproductive rhythm which rendered her heart incapable of pumping blood. Eventually, the lack of oxygen to the brain shuts down the body, including any signals to pump the heart at all. Time is of the essence, if he had the arrest at noon and still hadn’t been revived by 1 when he got to the hospital, he really had no chance of recovery. How sad, such a remarkable life.
The experts usually manage to confuse more people than they clarify. CNN’s Sanjay Gupta made a point of seperating the concept of heart attack and cardiac arrest, after which Eric Hill promptly said “Once again Michael Jackson is dead at the age of 50 after suffering a massive heart attack”. If Cardiac Arrest was on a flow sheet it would be at the top – the lines down would include the subheadings as causes – 1 Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarct) 2 Metabolic disorders (caused by drugs or other natural body causes) 3. Cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the ventricles – usually left). Causes #2,and 3 are usually cardiac arrest that is not defibrillatable, which I would guess is the cause in MJ’s case, mainly because the Paramedics would have been able to revive him or pronounce him without “getting to the hospital within 10 minutes” as CNN said – (assuming Paramedics don’t know anything and have to get you to the hospital for you to survive). It may well be that he did have ‘massive heart attack’ (which would mean that even though the heart attack technically is like someone having chest pain etc. from arrythmias that cause a reduction in blood flow so somebody feels crappy, looks pale etc) – maybe it was massive enough – a big enough blockage that the person bypasses the chest pain part and goes completely unconscious – (in cardiac arrest). This situation is likely one that is defibrillatable but carries a lower prognosis than someone who has progressed from ‘heart attack’ into cardiac arrest. This can happen on its own or by mishandling the patient by moving them quickly and increasing their heart rate, thereby increasing oxygen demand on the heart, causing more agitated mycocardial cells to produce ma flood re-entrant electrical activity. This in turn causes enough quantity of myocardial cells to incompletely depolarize, and throws the heart into ventricualar fibirllation. Whatever the case it may well be that MJ’s Cardiac Arrest was really a massive heart attack (THE CAUSE OF THE CARDIAC ARREST), which would be correct in a round about way – but only if you knew in advance that it was the real cause, and so far we don’t.
Monster, people with no brain activity are kept artificially “alive” all the time–as long as the heart is still beating, you put them on a ventilator to breathe for them and they continue to “live”, in the most basic sense of the word. That is what happens when someone suffers brain death but they’re going to have their organs harvested for donation.
The brain is what thinks and tells everything else in the body what to do, but the heart and lungs are the organs that perfuse the cells by pumping oxygen and glucose to them via the bloodstream. They are absolutely necessary to sustain life.
If your brain is working but the heart stops, you will die quite quickly. And if you don’t get resuscitated (CPR, defibrillation, etc.) within 4 to 6 minutes, you will likely stay dead, because the brain has gone without oxygen (delivered by the heart and lungs) for too long. But if you suffer brain death, as long as you promptly get CPR and are put on “automatic pilot” (ventilator, life support, etc.), your body can continue to live for a long time even though your brain is “dead”.
Bottom line: in most circumstances, the lack of oxygen to the brain is a *result* of cardiac arrest, not the cause of it.
Andy, Nurse Practitioner
former flight nurse, ER nurse, paramedic–started in 1983. Dealt with more of these than I can remember!
Such a remarkable life.
In the world that we currently live in, basic/intermediate life saving techniques should be taught in junior high/high school and certainly continued throughout college. Every citizen today should know the basics of a first responder to administer until trained medical personnel can take over. Too many lives are lost within the first minutes because too few have any idea what to do first, and next, until trained personnel are on the site. We are an “advanced” society, and most first responder actions can be easily understood and administered by “average” people with a little training.
I once watched a guy have a cardiac arrest right in front of me. It is exactly as described in this article. It was as if someone turned the switch off on the guy. He was testifying in court and I was in the jury just a few feet away from him. He was in mid-sentence when he just fell to the floor, his feet went to the sides and he death rattled his last breath. It was that quick. Court medical personnel rushed in but there was no saving him. He was the star witness in the grand Jury investigation and the investigation stopped at least for the Grand Jury I was on. I believe they continued with the next years Federal Grand Jury
VictoriaM- There can be a reduction in blood flow (i.e.80% blockage of a major coronary vessel or spasm of a coronary vessel)without a heart attack, this can lead to angina. Only when the myocardial tissue has infarcted is there an actual heart attack. Also, the body being alive when the brain is dead… all semantics. If a person is brain dead and their heart is beating, they are legally dead (death certificate and all). If their heart stops pumping blood, no cardiac output, they are just as dead. There is a remote chance, however, that CPR and defibrilation can revive the cardiac dead person. The brain dead person cannot be helped and eventually their heart will stop no matter what the intervention.
CPR is critical, and *everyone* should learn CPR.
Generally speaking, CPR by itself will not resucitate anyone. However, without CPR you realistically only have a window of 1-2 minutes in which advanced measures may resuscitate the patient. With effective CPR, you buy yourself an additional 5-10 minutes. Without those extra few minutes it is usually impossible to get the advanced support measures necessary to resuscitate the patient.
I greatly admire the work of Sanjay Gupta. However, as an expert in preventive cardiology, i was shocked at the degree in which Sanjay’s understanding of heart disease is outdated and outmoded. I was amazed that Sanjay thinks about the mechanism of heart attacks is gradual narrowing of arteries and then low flow to the heart—rather than the mechanism that occurs in almost all heart attacks which is sudden disruption of vulnerable plaque. And when he was trying to describe why people get a cardiac arrest, he mentioned rhythm disturbances, etc, but never mentioned that the most common cause is still a heart attack leading to cardiac arrest.
I would caution against a general statement that “CPR will not bring someone back by itself. Only defibrillation with a heart monitor or AED can do that.” On two separate occasions in the past several years, I have been on the scene when a person “dropped in their tracks” and had no pulse, no respiration, graying skin tone and no pupillary response. In both cases, I performed CPR (the classic alternating chest compression and oral lung inflation) for several minutes, while onlookers did just that without assisting, and in both cases the person revived to self-sustaining respiration and pulse. I never found out the cause of the collapse or the long-term results of the episodes these people suffered, but I do know that both of them were conscious, stabilized and coherent when they were later taken from the scene by EMT’s. In neither of these cases was there a defib available, so the success of the intervention was solely attributable to CPR. It really can work.
Very true,being a doctor and an intensivist in icu i know the ordeals of cardiac arrest.It’s a very difficult situation to deal with.You hardly have few seconds to act.Although cardiac arrest is a broad term,it may occur due to several causes.
Nobody, including the author, seems to know the correct definitions. Cardiac arrest is when the heart flatlines – NO beating or rhythm whatsoever. Jackson suffered ventricular fibrillation, which is indeed more critical, as CPR does not generally help. Ventricular fibrillation is where the heart beats rapidly without coordinated rhythm. Heart attack is just a definition for lack of oxygen to the heart, usually due to blockage of an artery. Untreated, this causes death of heart tissue, which can lead to cardiac arrest or ventricular fibrillation. Hope this clears this up. (I am a former cardiac monitoring technician, and have pretty much seen and studied them all.)
thanks for the infomation..
Obviously Kristen and Karel have never heard of brain death.
I don’t wish anyone dead, but Jackson was a sick puppy that no one should revere. I prefer to remember the way he was in the 80’s and earlier.
i’ ve never heard of cardiac arrest before,im well informed now, i was thinking it is more or less of heart attack. But i wonder what is the main cause or it is heart attack?
The Pressure of the Big Peformances ahead..Perfectionlism..etc.
I understand he regained consciousness in the ambulance and his dying words were “take me to a childrens hospital…..”
thats the most desrespectful thing ive ever read dee
I hope there is special gadget that can be domestically used to resuscitate a patient.
I heard that everybody is burning a candle in their window in his memory. WOW!!! I’m so hurt about his loss.
The passing of Michael Jackson is like a star being plucked from the sky. The sky becomes a little dimmer.
Thanks for the insight; its important to have closure
on the cause of death of truely an icon of this generation…i did’nt have any connection with the Sinatras and the pressleys that have since passed on but with Michael…my fondest childhood memories are doing the moonwalk to Thriller,billie jean..:( He will always be the King Of Pop!!!
Dee: Please do not try your hand at comedy again. That was a very poor joke, at best. Have some respect for the deceased already. I may have not liked everything about Michael Jackson and he had his problems, but what are they going to say about you after you kick the bucket? You may not want to know.
what signs are their when having a Cardiac Arrest?Is the person in pain
As to the reply about .”If you “flatline” you ar already dead & can’t be brought back……You are SOOO WROONG! About 10 yrs. ago my handicapped son was ill & the hospital was going to send him him..”no longer with a “temp”..”oxygen level is now normal”……I said .”NO! I KNOW him & HE is still in DANGER ( he has RARE form of Muscular Dystrophy.)
Anyway we ARGUED ..& FINALLY to “APEASE ME”…they put him “upstairs”….I said.”NO!….Peds….ICU ONLY!”……so they did…& 20 mins later..HE FLATLINED! I SAW IT….TOTALLY! …..out came the “crash carts”….& a TEAM….worked on him……he came back!…..So “Cardiac Arrest”…you CAN be revived…& he had ALL the cards against him… he came in with broncitus…I only wish Michael had a “team” there for HIM at the time…;(
My prayers go to his children & the family & friends left behind.
Thank God another child molester has been taken off the streets. He should have died in jail but at least he is dead.
On August 16, 2007 I suffered a full cardiac arrest here in my office at the age of 37. It was only the fact that my wife (a clinical assistant for the chief of cardiology at Kaiser Permanente) arrived here a few moments before and was standing behind me rubbing my shoulders when it happened that I was saved. I woke up two days later in the hospital after an angioplasty and stent with no recollection of it at all and no damage whatsoever. I’m told the paramedics shocked me twice on my floor and once in the hospital but my memory stopped at the shoulder rub. It’s humbling to think that I was one of the 5% that survive this experience.
Dee,
That is the best line I ever heard all day. I was shocked and now you craked me up !You can join Bruno now.
Funny how if it was just some run-of-the-mill Joe Plumber pedophile people would have been praying for his death, but since he was famous and had the money to silence his victims everyone still cherishes him. Pathetic.
Dee, that was absolutely the best comment here, I wouldn’t doubt if it were true.
Kristin- Let me start by saying I’m not trying to be a jerk, just wanted to clear this up for you. Medically (and legally) death does not occur until there is no brain wave activity, so a person in cardiac arrest is not necessarily “dead” until brain activity has ceased. Hope this is helpful to you, and that I don’t offend you by offering this tidbit :D
Dee, he also said.. “leave me under the little boys sand box” .. he was a sick person, and it ammazes me what money can do !! a few millions and your transformed from a child molester to a HERO !!, and an ICON, and an “Amazing person” who had a “remarkable Life” ,,, sure remarkable that he got away with child molestation..and some idiots still bought his cd’s and watched his concerts.. i bet Charles Manson can have a concert and there are some who would pay to attend and make him a “Celebraty” !!
Sandy, I am glad he did not have a team with him, and my prayers go out to his victims.
What a shame MJ is gone!! His music will be missed.
He was a great person in his own way.
How can one prevent cardiac arrest/heart attack
Which one is more painful cardiac arrest or heart attack
the defibrillator does not “shock the heart back into a normal rhythm”. it STOPS the heart from fibrillating and the heart’s property known as automaticity starts the heart beating normally again. most cardiac arrests are caused by heart attacks. the hearts’ rhythm can be one of three things if it’s not making a pulse a) ventricular fibrillation b) aystole or c) pulseless electrical activity (pulseless v-tach is just a subset of PEA)
if you are in cardiac arrest you are dead. clinically dead… biological death is from cell/tissue/organ/system death after too long of being clinically dead.
i’ve been a paramedic 17 years.
#
Karel
Was this written by a medical professional? Everyone dies of cardiac arrest. It means the heart stopped beating. It’s not a cause of death.
who told you this?? i have personally brought people back from the dead (not breathing, no pulse, unconscious,unresponsive) in an ambulance. more that once.
i’m a paramedic for many, many years
People who are writing negative comments about him. Just think! you can’t get away from death. In momment, or tomorrow it can be you. God (only one God)is always have control on you.
Great information all the way around. Thank you all.
A heart attack is caused by a reduction or loss of blood flow which is caused by blockage. Your blood pressure and pulse rate increase so that the heart can continue to receive it’s normal blood flow.
Cardiac arrest is just that. To “arrest” something is to “stop” that something.
I know, I have had eight heart attacks.
Way too many “experts” here. Who gives a sh** what the difference is? If you can’t or don’t respond, it’s fairly irrelevant.
My dad died of cardiac arrest at the age of 69. I’m not 100% sure of the details but the Dr. told me he was revived with that machine but led to a coma then another cardiac arrest is dat possible? I mean if u had the arrest first time can u get it again? Sorry i’m confuse.
To VictoriaM,
Thank you for saying that “Everyone should learn CPR. Always remember that the person is dead without your help, and you can’t make them any worse!”. It is fear that keeps me clear of a CPR scene.
Yes, cardiac arrest is “death”. No effective heart beat, no blood flow. The purpose of effective CPR is to make the blood flow artificially to the brain for brain oxygenation until the heart can be shocked back into action, thus delaying brain death. CPR cannot go on forever and save the person’s life. The heart has to start beating normally again soon to sustain life and replenish all the organs, not just the brain. If you learn CPR, it can be a life-saving stopgap until a defibulator is applied. If the heart doesn’t start beating again soon, all is lost.
Dee, that was the most funny joke I have ever heard! He was a sick child molester who should have died in jail, but money once again keeps the losers out on the streets. Glad his sorry &^^ is dead
Amos, Yes there is such a device. It’s called an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). They are proven to save lives.
To dee and all the other jury, judges and executioners, if Michael paid his way out of child molestation charges what does that say about the parents who took the deal? Rip Michael and my prayers and thoughts are with his family especially his children.
Well I’m not sad he’s dead, his victims are still alive and have to live with what he did to him.
Also what is it with this respect for the dead thing? They’re dead they could care less what’s said about them.
why is everyone so judgemental these days ok yes maybe he molested the boys or maybe he didn’t were you ther to see him do it ? and anyway look at your own lives are you perfect ? you might be a killer, abuse your wife, steal people’s investment money , or even lie to your boss sin is sin. He’s gone lets all just move on with our less than perfect lives. Am sure if he is guilty his consious dealt with him and Then who ever deals with us after we live this earth will deal with Michael. REST IN PEACE.Thank you
I just HATE it when my myocard gets infarcted!
unjudgemental:
I beg to differ with your handle there. You just judged us as sinners. BTW the true meaning of the word sin is “mistake”.
♦
I have a question….when my son was 12 he was struck by lightning while camping with boy scouts. It was reported that he had gone into cardiac arrest. He was unconscious, was turning blue, and had lost control of his bodily functions. CPR was administered by a scout leader and he was airlifted to the nearest hospital. Thankfully he survived. It sounds from the comments here that he must not have gone into cardiac arrest. I have been told that doing CPR on an individual who is not in cardiac arrest can do more damage. This happened 9 years ago. Should I be concerned? By the way, find humor in the fact that he has fully recovered and is graduating next spring with an Electrical Engineering Degree!
I should add he was not breathing as well.
Put it like this. Charles Manson may have been a great public speaker, but his death is no more tragic for the fact. Jackson was a pop-music sensation in the MID-EIGHTIES!! Decades later, he was a child-molester severely mentally disturbed individual with a very tragic past and tons of money. When I heard of his death last night, my since of tragedy was motivated by the fact that I knew we were about to see some revisionist history on a monumental scale. I hope the young boys and men that had to endure this unfortunate individual are able to recover from what he put them through. This day and age, with the miraculous advances in information technology, I am shocked that we still have a memory that can’t go past 24 hours.
Rue i agree am a sinner too and sin is a mistake , so lets agree to disagree using your word “MISTAKE” Do you think he commited a “sin” by harming the kids thats if he did or do you think he made a “mistake” i will let you be the judge
How sad for you people that so disrespect the passing of another Human Being.It was never proven that Michael hurt anyone and Money? There are people out there that will say and do anything for Money.Michael a little diff.doesn’t make him a pervert.No one really knows outside of Michael and the Child.If the child was lieing I feel sorry for him cause look what he put that Man through.
The American heart Association recommends #@?&!*#@?
I recommend better testing. The only great testing happens is when you have a heart attack.
Was there any connection with high blood tension or not?
unjudgemental:
I consider what he did was neither a “sin” or a “mistake”. He took young souls and damaged their minds and bodies. It’s a crime that will be relived over and over until that child dies. Child molestation should by treated the same as murder. Either life in prison or the death penalty.
As to why I feel so strongly about this, I was molested as a child and I remember it every day of my life of 51 years.
Nick:
Thank you for your comments.
Gee, I don’t see my post. It was relevant and scientifically accurate. It answered a question that had not been answered. I wonder what happened to it.
Rue,I Can’t even find the right words to say to anyone who has been in that situation before its the worst thing that anyone can ever do to another human being especially an innocent child. The fact that people like you are able to talk about it and get some of these sick people exposed is a step in the right direction and I highly respect you for Sharing this. And if Michael did it to thsoe inoocent kids, then there it is “the wage of sin is death” qoute from the bible.
I’ve heard he accepted Islam after the alleged child molestation and all ofcourse. Since it is strictly prohibited in Islam. Is it true??
Some of you are really IGNORANT, DISRESPECTFUL and JUDGEMENTAL. It has not been proven that this man was a child molestor. What was proven was that he had lots of money that paid someone who CLAIMED they were molested. That still does not say that he was guilty. And like Unjudgemental said maybe he molested the boys or maybe he didn’t were you ther to see him do it, and anyway look at your own lives are you perfect ? The Bible says he who is without sin cast the first stone. You cant do that because everyone on this blog has sinned and come short against God. Sin is sin no matter how big or how small, what matters is that you ask God for forgiveness, now have you done that. Nothing you say, will change anything about how people feel about Michael, get it through your thick heads, his legacy is going to live on, regardless.
i agree wit yu Miss B
I cant believe all the NEGATIVE comments about this man. His accomplishments outwiegh his “wrong doings” (that he was found NOT guilty of). I’m sure whoever your favorite musicians are were inspired by MJ in some way. YOU will NEVER influence as many people as he did.
TO SAY THAT YOU ARE GLAD HE IS DEAD IS DIGUSTING. IF THE ONLY THING YOU CAN THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY HIS NAME IS CHILD MOLESTATION THAN SHAME ON YOU.
YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOURSELF & WORRY ABOUT HOW YOU* WILL ANSWER TO YOUR GOD.
Not sure what “ALLEGED” child molestation has to do with Cardiac Arrest. But I am glad someone posted the difference between Cardiac Arrest and a Heart Attack. It is actually very important since the warning signs are very different and more lives could be saved if people recognized those warning signs early.
Miss B, Way to go.. atleast for us who have the nerve to admit we are NOT perfect, whatever Micheal did or didnot we will never know … what i know is he had a talent unlike anyother and no one can take that away from him .Even “SINNERS” have that one great thing about them which makes us all what we call HUMAN. He had the best music, gave alot to charity and atleast half of the world’s population loved his music… so the only people who should have issues with him are the little boys who know they are telling the truth. Farrah Faucett REST IN PEACE
i m glad that he is dead i wish he had died with as much pain as he gave to the little boys.
marisa he was not proven guilty of it.
Kuddos to you all for great explaination, i have learn alot about heart attack, dealth and Cardiac arrest. Every one of you writting this is lucky to be living in advanced countries but we in africa especially in the west and east where 90% of the hospitals workers and DR know nothing about those words and machines what do we do?
My sister died of heart attack, we rushed her to hospital, she was still breathing but the DR declered her dead. My brother press her chest and she started breathing but this damn DR was busy fixing injection for like 3 mins and my sister died finally. There was no oxygen or any other machine to rivive her back to life.
Life in africa is just like living deads, common headache kill here because there are not good clincal facilities. We lack those Health facilities/ machines here and that is why we are closer to God and whatever happens here, people put the blame on God because that is the only option we have lol
Rest in peace Michael, i felt very bad when i got the news but maybe God says it was his time if not his personal DR would have taken him to hospital since tuesday night. According to Marlon on http://www.cnn.com , when Michael told Frank about his health problem, Frank called Michael’s DR and the DR was there till wednesday morning but Dr wasnt around when Michael lost his breath.
Rest in peace Michael….. I use this comment to invite those big hospitals to Africa for investment. Dealth is nothing here, people die everyday because of less health care.
Kay
An african student, who loves reading articles & news all over the world from different sources. Among the first persons in Africa to hear about Michael Jackson death .
For those still filled with hatred. Do you recall Mary Walcott? Do you recall the history of the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts 1692?
Its over haters … go home.
God Bless Michael.
Yes I spent most of my time with young people; they are more accepting of who you are, less judgemental, and enjoy laughter, laughter soothes the soul. I never had a “childhood”. I was performing long hours for thousands when most “regular” children are getting ready to start elementary school. People called me a child molester because i wanted to live a childhood that I missed out on. The world can continue to debate my reputation and say about me whatever they wish’ as I’m now with my maker, I was judged by the alpha & omega and he sees fit for me to sit at his side in heaven….. even tho we are apart, you’re always in my heart :)
Michael is so blessed. He died peacefully. Also if he died of a cardiac arrest it means that he did not experience long agonizing pain. Michael Jackson will always be remembered as a great entertainer.
Michaelsoul
i like it.
Michael Jackson experienced an acute heart condition that led to his death. That’s about as generic as you can get.
Death is a process, not a single event.
The Bible also say’s that all will have to give an account for all of the words you speak. it also states all of us have a appointment to die…maybe you should think about what type of legacy you will leave for your family and friends to remember you by.. will it be a hater! fault finder? or just lost without any regard for anyone.. no love in your heart or natural affection.. just selfish and uncaring and made everyone who would care about you ashamed that they once knew you,, sounds like we need to get busy cleanig up our own lives.. Micheals is over.. how about you is yours?
Boy/Man Of Greatness
You walk on the moon now you walk amongst the stars,
You were and are the greatest by far.
We celebrate because God has called home the angel with rhinestones
Thnak You Joe and Catherine for being his parents on this Earth,but he is not alone.
He is amongst the real stars now
and he must never be forgotten
everytime they thought he was done
he would come back and shock them.
If every one could “Be LIKE Mike”
It would not have been a joy
but he had to go, this man of greatness,but lonely.Trapped inside this little boy.
-An Adoring fan DMJ-4:40am 6/26/09
AMEN ANICK, very nicely put. Brothers and Sisters, get your own souls right with God for He is coming for you also.
This post should have addressed why being a drug addict and injecting painkillers like Demerol is a bad idea. After all, Michael Jackson was, among other unsavory things, a drug addict.
There you go…bringing up some more shyt…like he was the only one that was medicated drug addict. Talk about the positive things for a change
Marc have you every been unsavory? I’m sure you can be honest.. after all you are making a statement as though you are a honest person.. what unsavory have you done? and are still doing? Let’s hear… Give us a chance to judge you…
I still cant believe he is gone! I mean really!
RT
http://www.anon-tools.tk
Yes heart attack is more serious.
THIS WAS A VERY SHOCKING AND CRAZY DEATH.HE WAS DEAD AT HOME ALREADY.HIS HEART HAD STOPPED BEATING..AND BECAUSE HIS PERSONAL DOCTOR COOLD NOT RUCUSITATE HIM.THATS WHEN THEY DID CALL THE AMBULANCE.HE WAS ALREADY DEAD AND GONE.I BELIVE THERE WAS NO CHANCE AT HIS LIFE COMING BACK.HE WAS ALREADY ON HIS WAY TO GOD.JUSS SOO SOON AND TRAGIC.THIS IS A TRUE TRAGEDY AND THE [[KING OF POP]] IS GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.
Any sane person would be glad he’s dead. It’s about time, no? And what took so long? Think of all the future children who will avoid the horrors of his abuse. This is a happy day. Leave drug addicted child molesters to rot. It’s what’s best. God told me.
Oh my God. Some of you sound absolutely ridiculous right now. I can’t believe some of you are actually praising his death. What is WRONG with you? Have some respect for the dead. I can’t say that enough. And Judith, really? I must be insane then because I’m stunned at his death. Also, his case was ALLEGED, whether he’s done it or not, it doesn’t invalidate the fact that he is a legend. He dedicated his life to entertaining the world, and he did. RIP.
Hey Judith, God didnt tell you that , i can confront you, stop telling lies all in the name of God. God doesnt like lies.
Please change, may God forgive you for using his name on false words.
Beat it. Just beat it.
Alyssa dont be judith, he/she must be drunk, God didnt tell her anything. she only said what was on her mind.
Michael you will be sorely missed.:(
Rue Said:
I beg to differ with your handle there. You just judged us as sinners. BTW the true meaning of the word sin is “mistake”.
Mistake is not the proper synonym for “sin”. “Offense” is. When you commit a “sin” against God or the law, you commit an “offense” against God or the law.
M. Jackson was a darn looser and I’m surprised how many people give him a slack. He died with millions of debt. How much money did he waste in his life? . Hope he enjoyed his life but no respect from me.
(I know de mortuis nihil nisi bene so I deleted some anglo-saxon terms I used originally)
I had a cardiac arrest at 6:30 am in october 2007… and thanks to GOD and the ems crew I am still here… yes during cardiac arrest there is ALOT of pain… and nausea, and dizzy and lots of pain….I was a fan of michael jackson growing up… but not so much lately… but you gotta admit …. he was one excellent performer… he will be missed terribly…
ummm… Marius i would love to know how you would spend 50 million dollars if someone gave it to you right now , remember you wouldn’t have worked for it like he did but assume you just got lucky what’s the first thing you would do with that money?
Rue,
you should not be carrying around that horrible burden for 51 years……you have to forgive the person(s) who “sinned” against you.
It seems that Michael spent the remainder of his years trying to prove and convince ppl that he did not do that, but the good old Media tore him down, just like they are good for!
Thanks for the write up: Very informative, but of what practical use is it to someone doing the ‘horizontal moon dance’ all by his lonesome?
On a separate matter, who’s the sicko here: A deceased, purported child molester vilified by his celebrity status (and acquitted of all criminal charges), or those quick to cast the first stone, regardless?
To the poster above : Michael Jackson EARNED his money and he liked to live large. Coming from very poor family and not having fine things in early childhood I can understand his hunger. And every celebrety dies with debts look at Elivs’s story their tragic ends are so similar.
Both had house full of idiots who did not monitor their medications or unqualified doctor (in MJ’s case) why the heck someone would have a cardiac arrest if a freaking doctor is living in his house?!?
And I do NOT for a moment believe those child molestation charges. Those people who accused him of that crime never actually came public like never showed their face in media. They just wanted to find a weak, volnurable star and milk him for money. To save his public image he offered them some settlement for them not to drag him through dirt. They are scammers and cheaters and you are like a robot repeating what you heard or were spoon fed by the media.
Michael Jackson’s music is brilliant, his voice, clothing style, dance moves were unique as well and he did not blend with your regular pop stars. He was a true legend and he touched hundreds of millions of people around the WORLD! He will be missed.
Shame on those who say nasty things about him. What have you done in this life? Nothing! He fought for AIDS, Children’s rights, better life for children around the world. He was a true humanitarian.
people always fishing for the wrong instead of the good someone has done. my question to all the perfect people “i know am not one of them”. if you witnessed him and were there in the room while he molested the boys then open your mouth otherwise shut up and look through your own dirty laundry , see if you die you, would love for everyone to hang it out for the whole world to see? If you truly have a clean life closet then post your negative comments.
Seriously, people? It’s 2009, and some of you still believe that ancient, caveman “God” fairytale? Wow. Just wow. A good man dies, and out come the crazies with their “god” idiocy. Seriously, people, grow up. It’s 2009. Stop holding on to this pathetic religion crap, it really makes you look stupid and lonely. Thankfully, religion died long, long ago.
RIP, Michael – please ignore these fools. You’ll be missed.
Karen, just in case you did not know…..you are the fool!
I wouldn’t call her a fool Tyranny … i dont know anyword in the english language that would describe a person who would have the time to type stuff like that.But its her opinion , karen you might need a reality check
That is very usefull information we have a rare interview of the star in 1982 at http://www.dontknow3.com Thanks
Michael was the greatest thing to touch earth he as brought smiles to so many faces and he will be missed by millions i will never forget that song he did for Africa and many more R I P Michael we miss you.
Life is so funny alot of people is saying bad things about Michael but trust me some of you people as done worst things than what your saying about Michael {check yourself}
how can i make my own website?
sad sad
im big fan of Micheal Jackson
The world has lost a great artist. He had his faults to be sure, but he made some good music and had millions of loyal fans around the world. RIP Michael.
Karen:
I am not the one to say my opinion had anything to do with religion. As I live in the USA I have a right to speak my opinions, right or wrong. I guess it’s ok for people to judge and hate me because of my opinion but not someone who has a big name and a lot of money and hurt children.
Once again people seem to forget that it is still disrespectful to discuss what he did or didn’t do. he and the individuals involved alone know that truth, they and they alone.. no one should judge but let me say this if it were true he would have went to jail our justice system is the practiced best in the world.
Now medically speacking I dont know the difference but I will tell you that either way it is a tragic ending to a great performer and truly a great loss to the world of music.
His love for his fans and their love in return is why he was the King Of POP. I never really listened to his music after the Thriller era but I still had a great deal of respect to his music.
Given that he was unable to live a life like we do he had it harder than the rest of us. yea he had money but remember that that cannot buy you complete happiness, it only buys the proverbial bandaid, that only covers the seperation from society as a whole.
May he rest in Peace.
Everything about this poor man is CONJECTURE. The coroners report is not out yet.
I think it is very disrespectful of the media to continue to chase down this man even in death. He was an icon. He is dead. Be respectful.
When Elvis died, fat and overdosed, I wonder if the media went for his carcass like a bunch of vultures??
Disrespectful….Hmmmmm….
thanks for your explanation of death
Dr_Zinj
my mum died in 2002 and she was in intensive care and we were told she was going to die. they moved her to the regular ward and it took her 10 days to die. she was awake and alert but not as much as she had been. not interested in food. they still medicated her. wish I had the foresight to ask how they knew she was dieing.
I find after reading all of the comments that people do not understand (V-Fib). It is actually when the heart is not pumping blood to the body. The only thing that will save you are the paddles. I know because I lived through it. When people say what can they do to possibly prevent it there is a test that can possibly help but it is not guaranted. However, I hope this shows parents how important it is when their kids play sports to have them checked for any heart condition. In alot of cases when an individual dies on the fied, court or where ever this is it. More education needs to be done at the schools, sport clubs, etc.
Regardless of his problems this is sad tidings.
Drugs and everything aside, I’m certain the main factor of his death was that he stressed himself out preparing for a comeback of his life. Stress will make you lose weight and put a great strain on your heart and body.
The child molestation charges are mentioned here a lot … tell ya the truth, I think most of it was staged against him. And for what little might be true, I seriously doubt that he had any idea he did anything wrong.
There’s no doubt the guy was a little weird, but what person with dedication to his craft isn’t? Genius is often a very small step away from insanity; and he was given a life very few of us can imagine or relate to.
Michael should be remembered first and foremost as an entertainer… one of the last great ones of our generation. Unlike these other “pop stars” he put everything he had into what he thought YOU would like, and never backed down or complained.
I will choose to remember Michael Jackson for the professional that he was – and not for his personal failings which only showed that he was also human.
heart attack is CERTAINLY NOT layman’s terms for cardiac arrest. cardiac arrest is what it is, the arrest of the heart and the circulatory system to function in order to properly perfuse the body’s tissues. usually some kind of arrhythmia causes the heart to quiver rather than to beat, which makes it impossible to push blood out and into the body. simply, it stops beating the way it’s supposed to. THAT is cardiac arrest.
HEART ATTACK, as it was already explained, is death to part of the myocardium, the muscle in the heart, which can cause an array of problems if not treated immediatly, such as cardiogenic shock, and a heart attack may send an individual into cardiac arrest…. heart attack is actually layman’s terms for MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (MI).
but cardiac arrest, heart attack…. two different things.
Michael Jackson may be a great pop singer to be appreciated but not a great man to be emulated!
Heart attack is the alpha stage and heart arrest is the omega stage!
If they had been able to revive him, what condition would he have been in? Would he be brain damaged?
WOW I thought they were the same thing as well thanks alot bunch for clarity
Just because Michael Jackson died and was a talented individual, he was deeply troubled and just escaped jail…what is wrong with people these days? Is celebrity a ticket to sainthood-he is not deserving of this bizarre adulation…
Child molester: true or not, his own concience knows.
I will remember him as a great intertainer. He is the only one MJ. RIP
To the writer of this article,
I think you have misunderstood what ‘cardiac arrest’ is and what a ‘heart attack’ is. I am a physician, and I will tell you that a myocardial infarction (aka “heart attack”) can easily progress into a ‘cardiac arrest’
many times, in an emergency situation; a patient who is in cardiac arrest has HAD a myocardial infarction which has caused him/her to go into cardiac arrest. Of course, it is not an exclusive cause of this arrest—-but it is by far the most common cause.
Before writing an article like this, it would be wise for you to consult with a physician, or someone who can clarify this for you; as misinformation to the public is not a fruitful thing to spread.
thanks
Dr. H
I love him and his songs and I am so sad for his loss :((((((((((
We lost a very , very great human being known for his music and many other good things. He had a family and many, many people who truly loved him and will definitely miss him. Be respectful to the family and his children. They truly deserve this respect. May they find the love and respect they need at this time.
whacko jacko
http://www.mydexmarketplace.wordpress.com
I wish the speculation regarding drug use as the cause of his death would stop.
It is awful this man’s autopsy is not out, yet he has been categorized as a pill popping addict.
To all the misinformed Haters who persist in spreading lies and spewing hate, know this: MICHAEL JACKSON WAS ACQUITTED OF ALL 14 COUNTS AGAINST HIM in the 2005 Child Molestation Case.
One of his Attorney’s who represented him during the trial stated in an interview that the charges against this man were preposterous and he KNEW that Michael could not have possibly committed the acts alleged against him.
The alleged victim of the 2005 molestation charges: Gavin Arvizo, (who was 13 at the time of the ALLEGED molestation), his mother, their attorney (who sought to rape Michael Jackson’s pockets for the SECOND time), AND the Los Angeles District Attorney who filed these frivolous charges should be ashamed of the pain that they caused this man. But no matter, they ALL will reap what they sowed. The damage that they wrought on Michael Jackson’s image, finances and psyche will pale in comparison to the destructive forces that will manifest in their own lives.
Consequently, Michael Jackson’s money was not the reason that he was found not guilty of child molestation, THE TRUTH WAS!
Young Gavin, his horrible mother, their Attorney — who sought to use Michael Jackson as an ATM machine (and many other shameful people who were involved in railroading this poor man) all rolled the dice believing that they could get rich off of Michael Jackson — taking his kindness for weakness; but thankfully in this country all accused persons get to put on a defense. During said ‘defense’ a video surfaced wherein Young Gavin, his despicable mother Janet, his bother and sister (ALL) stated in a 2003 video that Michael Jackson NEVER molested any of them, there was no INAPPROPRIATE conduct and that they loved and thought of Michael Jackson as a father-figure.
On the other hand, this family has been accused of and/or been guilty of:
** Suing JC Penny for $3 Million, after they were detained for SHOPLIFTING (they settled out of court for over $150 Thousand due to horrible mother, Janet, getting into a physical confrontation with JC Penny security-guards)
**Attempting to Extort $$ from comedian George Lopez
**Welfare fraud by the mother, Janet (this greedy woman took over $8 Thousand from the State of California after having over $30 Thousand in her bank account from JC Penney)
**Lying under oath in other/unrelated cases (mother Janet and younger brother, Star)
Michael Jackson was SURROUNDED by Leechers, Opportunists, Drug-Dealers (posing as medical doctors), Hangers-On, Gold-Diggers and the like. If he is guilty of anything, it’s letting people take advantage of him!
Mark – you very right. Demerol is very dangerous. in excess it is known to cause seizures and death from the metabolite build up it leaves in the blood stream. This is why it has almost never used anymore. Also, 100% of people in cardiac arrest are dead, however we are able to bring some of them back to life with machines and medicine.
Yes, he was a great artist,he had been accused of a crime, he was found not guilty and now he has passed away,let us all pray for his soul and not question whether he is guilty or not.His life is over,so lets not judge anyone.You have your opinion,others have theirs.He was a great artist,he will be missed greatley.REST IN PEACE MICHAEL.
all thosee people whoo thinkk michael jackson is weirdd and is a paedophilee aree just jelouss evryone knowss he changed the worldd and inspired most modern musicianss and if it wasn’t for him the music industry wouldn’t be where it is now so before you want to make jokess about michael or call him thosee sadd little namess think of all the people that loved him there is probably a ratio of 1:10000000000 of people that hate him to people that like him soo forr all those haterss you go out there and try and accomplish what Michael has
This article doesn’t address why cardiac arrest is more dangerous than a heart attack. If it’s in the title you should probably consider mentioning it in the article. Also, I would say along the lines of the alleged topic, if a heart attack often causes cardiac arrest, one isn’t really “deadlier” than another; just a common precondition.
Why do the people bringing up his child molestation charges need to be nagged about facing God themselves one day? Last time I checked, I never molested anyone. I’m pretty sure that gives me a free pass in God’s eyes. He had some great music but hasn’t contributed anything to society in years.
1) Cardiac arrest is when your heart stops this can be for many reasons drug reaction and interactions is 1. When you are in cardiac arrest you have no pain perse because the physiological functions needed for pain stimulii are gone ( no heart beat no blood circulation and no o2. When a person is in cardiac arrest and there is no heartbeat on the monitor we do not I repeat do not shock because U do not shock a dead or stopped heart. Defribultion ( shocking) is only used if there ie a life threating arrythmia pulseless v tach v fib even PEA If Resusucitation is successful then you will feel pain as your circulation returns If there is no brain damage.
Michael fuiste el mejor. y seguiras siendolo.
All you folks who’re judging Micheal Jackson, I’d like to ask you. Have you any faults? Do you think your faults are perfect? And have you any skeleton’s in your closet?…Becareful how you cast your stones. God is our only Judge, please remember that. I loved and still loves micheal, His Memory would lives on in my heart. My repect goes out to his Kids and family
Sad story of a person robbed of childhood, then never able to become an adult!
It is a terrible thing when anyone has to take pain medication for any emotional reason. He contributed a lot to the music industry. Who knows what is true or untrue about allegations, however, I intuit that if there had been wrong doings on his part he would be in jail long ago. When you’re a public figure as he was you can become a target.
I am appaled by some of the postings that have surfaced recently on some websites re. jokes about him, can’t he have some peace even in his death? He obviously had arrested developmental emotional issues and he obviously didn’t take the help that was available to him and instead he resorted to medication.
I attended a small group retreat in Encintas CA, a couple of years ago hosted by Sondra Ray, She is one of the fore front people in “rebirthing” a new age therapy that has been around since the early 60’s. She offered her services for free to Michael Jackson and he refused her. I wish he had done something/anything to take care of his emotional health, it’s got to be very hard to rise so high in the media and then fall so fast in the public eye. Not many people can handle that by themselves.
jeez, who would ever have thought Elizabeth Taylor would outlive Michael Jackson. Thankfully she is fine. I’m sure she must be grieving a lot!!!
Dee and Blue Lou…you all are clueless and the most simple minded…maybe God will answer all our prayers and you will die in the worst way…and I don’t mean by cardiac arrest.
Bgates…let me say something to you and Gabe Asher…If MJ WAS a molester…which an uneducated DUMB FART would believe…why the HECK would someone take money unless they were extorting him. Use the 1% of the brain you all have…or maybe you are already brain dead. MJ is and will always be a legend and do not get mad because he is making more money in death than you have your entire miserable pathetic life. Hater’s disgust me.
He was a trouble soul may GOD have mercy on him
TO RUE and ANNE, you all are being LITERALLY HAGS!!! I personally don’t give a RIP about his SO CALLED VICTIMS and I never will…that are nothing but EXTORTIONIST. I agree with you Marsha…everyone is being Judges and they don’t or DIDN’T know Micheal at ALL. So all you HAGS and wanna be DRAHS. Bask in MJ’s greatness.
Andrew
Michael Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest and died at the age of 50. Elvis Presley died at 42 with “cardiac arrhythmia.”
Everybody needs to heart check (cardiac output) using non-invasive Heart CT scan at 40s to 50s as routine health care, which has sudden death occurred frequently.
Especially for those persons who has over physical activities like athletes, entertainers, over sexual activities, chronic diseases including cancers, drug takers, and all kinds of surgeries.
Surgery is not “panacea.” After 5 to 6 month’s complete healing from open heart bypass surgery the patient’s heart function (cardiac output) dropped to 34%.
You should enhance your heart function constantly through providing both life-force energy, heart substances, and eliminating plaque from your whole body including coronary arteries, which is newest innovative technique under 3rd Medical Revolution.
We should learn some lessons from Jackson’s death. May have him another peaceful life.
Sad…Just Very Sad His whole life from abusive childhood to his death…MJ never had a chance to just “be” ….and for someone so talented and giving; that is just sad…I never believed he molested anyone but…there are only a few people who know the answer to that….it was never proven and I think MJ was more sane than anyone gave him credit for…just because he was in pain and took pain killers doesn’t mean that is what killed him…
People die!!! He is gone!!! Let it rest!!! For GOD’s sake!!! and everyone else……..
sorry. i had my email wrong on that post but this one is right …..aquamaurine
i think no body will have a real respond. Just consider your heart like a battery in a watch and when that battery is dead every thing is done.
So there’s no warranty the only hope we have is
: beleive in God cause him only knows about that
there is a need to try and save some one who has a cardiac arrest .because my boyfriend was haveing an cardiac arrest at the time i just thought it was a heart attack. i begain cpr the parometic said that because i did cpr i saved his life . they had to put the paddles on him 5 times befor they had a heart beat . he lost some of his memory , he has a defibulator but praise God he is a live . so never give up .
oh and not only is he alive he’s getting around very well . went and brought him self a new ride so don’t think he not doing well because he is praise him .
I really wish that Micheal is still alive..I love you and you will still live in my heart forever..
I can’t accept he’s died!
A talent is gone!
I read that talent is the result of recurring activity, which becomes a habit. The two seem to go together. It’s hard to believe he is no longer on this earth. But I do feel for his kids and his family.
Nick, who do you think Charles Manson is?
He is one of the most evil humans on the planet. And he is still alive. Do some research on him. It sickens me to heaqr his name, much less view a picture of him
he is a nightmare.
Hey everyone who is judging MJ regarding the molestation charges. Step back and take a close look in the mirror! He was aquited/found not guilty of these charges. The families got what they wanted from MJ in the end here $$. If the boys and the parents lied then what does that say about them? MJ was by far the best entertainer to date! No one will ever come close. It is too bad, this Cardiac Arrest. Whatever came about MJ is dead and his sins as your mortal sins will, died with him. Stop badgering him as he is no longer here to defend himself.
can you please search for or read about jordan chandler and michael jackson in the wikipidea and find out whats really happened in that so called 1993 child sex abuse accusations against Michael Jackson?PLEASE?All of you who think that michael is a child molester please think again after you read it in the Wikipidea….SEARCH for MICHAEL JACKSON and Jordan Chandler so you can find out that it was all LIES and JORDAN CHANDLER admitted it that his father forced him to lie that Michael Jackson molested him.All but LIES!
YES,please search for 1993 sexual abuse against michael jackson and you can find out the truth.I will leave it up to you to judge after you read it/the story.
I have read and listened to everything I could find on Michael… and I know he was not a child molester… just a child lover.
He gave over 300 million to charites to help kids… and that is not even counting the money he put out to have bus loads of aids and cancer victims come and have a day at Neverland.
And I think we all know that Michael Jacksons doctor freaked out when he found him, he probably gave him the drug that should only be given in a hospital.. so either he was lying about Michael having a pulse…. or he killed him by not calling 911.. and he was paid 150 hundred dollars a month.
We so miss you Michael… you were the greatest RIP
it’s sad toose the artist like him, His tracks were just holding the world.
hey 1 question my dad said when a person is having a cardiac arrest if u punch him he will regain that blood flow thingy i dont believe him but can u prove this????
and i mean a punch on the stomache..please verify