Legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan passes away

(Patria) - Legendary American wrestler Hulk Hogan has passed away at the age of 71, reports TMZ Sports.

Emergency services were dispatched early this morning to his home in Clearwater, Florida, following a report of cardiac arrest.

According to available information, several police and ambulance vehicles were found outside the house, and Hogan was carried out on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

Just a few weeks ago, his wife Sky denied speculation that Hogan was in a coma, stating that his heart was strong and he was recovering after several surgeries.

A month earlier, information emerged that he was "dying," but it was then claimed that it was due to complications after a neck surgery in May.

Hogan was a central figure in transforming professional wrestling into global family entertainment.

Before his rise, wrestling attracted a limited audience, but thanks to his style, charisma, and stage presence, the sport became massively popular, especially among children and parents.

He made a major career turn in 1996 - from hero to villain, founding the legendary NWO (New World Order) team, after which he took the name Hollywood Hulk Hogan, further increasing his and the entire sport's ratings.

Hogan was first inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, but was removed in 2015 due to a scandal that erupted when a recording with racist comments, made without his knowledge during an intimate encounter, was leaked to the public.

Media company Gawker published the recording, and Hogan sued and eventually won the case.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for the second time in 2020 - this time as a member of the NWO.

Hogan also had a notable film career, which began in 1982 with the role of Thunderlips in the movie Rocky III. He also starred in films such as No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny.

He was also the star of the popular reality show "Hogan Knows Best" on VH1 television, where viewers could follow his daily life with his family - Linda, Nick, and Brooke.

Due to numerous injuries during his career, Hogan underwent a large number of surgeries. In an interview with Harvey Levin, during the show Object-ified, he stated that he practically had no original body parts left.