He shook up the world
Obama leads tributes as daughter says his heart kept beating for 30 mins AFTER his death
BOXING legend Muhammad Ali’s heart was so strong it kept beating for 30 minutes after his other organs failed, it emerged last night.
The ring icon’ was slipping away as he lay helpless in his hospital bed, gradually losing his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
But his lionheart simply refused to stop for another half an hour – prompting his daughter to call it a “true testament” to his fighting spirit and add in astonishment: “No one had ever seen anything like it.”
Ali had spent his final few hours covered in tubes and hooked to a lifesupport machine, his once titan-like body reduced to a shell.
His death from septic shock at 74, announced in Britain early yesterday morning, was a devastating end for his daughters Hana, 40, and Laila, 38.
DADDY
Yet in a moving tweet Hana revealed how the man known simply as The Greatest had battled to the very last.
She said: “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 okay. We love love. Thank you. You can go back to God now.
“All of us were around him hugging and kissing him and holding his hands, chanting the Islamic prayer.
“All of his organs failed but his heart wouldn’t stop beating.
“For 30 minutes . . . his heart just keep beating. No one had ever seen anything like it. A true testament to the strength of his Spirit and Will! Thank you all for your love and support!!!”
The life support machine had given a glimmer of hope to the star’s family as they gathered by his bedside at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.
But in the end even the former Olympic gold medallist, three-times world heavyweight champion and tireless crusader against injustice was unable to carry on.
Hana said she would always remember her father as a “Humble Mountain” with a “beautiful soul”.
As news of his death flashed around the world tributes poured in from sports heroes, politicians and leaders of every field of human endeavour.
Fellow boxing legend George Foreman, beaten by Ali in the famous Rumble in the Jungle in 1974, said: “Muhammad Ali made you love him.”
Other ring stars including Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather paid tribute along with US President Barack Obama and golfer Tiger Woods.
In Britain, VIPs including Prime Minister David Cameron and Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney also spoke movingly of Ali the legenc.
Those remembering his life pointed to the legacy outside the ring where he was a fierce opponent of the racism that blighted large areas of the US when he was growing up.
Flags throughout the city of Louisville, Kentucky – where he was born and faced that predjudice as a child and young man called Cassius Clay – were lowered to half mast out of respect.
And his non-stop stream of cocky chat gave rise to his other nickname – The Louisville Lip.
His brother Rahman, describing him as a “messenger for Allah”, said: “He’ll be remembered as the greatest sportsman of all time, not just in the ring but outside of it too.
“He was there for everyone. All walks of life. There wasn’t anyone he wouldn’t help. It was a privilege to call him my brother.”
Rahman added: ”On his headstone Muhammad said he wanted the Martin Luther King quote, ‘I tried to love somebody. I did try to feed the hungry. I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity’.”
Announcing Ali’s “very peaceful passing” family spokesman Bob Gunnell
said: “After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74.
“The Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and support and asks for privacy at this time.”
When the former three-times world champ was first taken to hospital on Thursday his condition was described as “fair” and his family had hopes he would recover.
But as he failed to respond to treatment for breathing problems, compounded by his Parkinson’s, doctors told them to “prepare for the worst”.
A source at the hospital told the Sunday Mirror: “He had an unshakable cough and they had sedated him to see if it was treatable.
“His breathing became very shallow and they put him on a ventilator but it failed to bring about any real change.”
Yesterday scores of wellwishers travelled to the hospital, with many handing over cards and flowers to staff for Ali’s family. Scott Turner, 42, who had driven 370 miles throughout the night from Los Angeles, said: “People like Ali are so rare most people don’t even get to see one on their lifetime. The world is darker place now but we should be thankful he is no longer suffering.”
Recent years had seen his condition deteriorate immeasurably, leaving him become practically immobile.
Gone was his famous Louisville Lip, which left the world mesmerised by his fast talking. He could no longer hold up his chin for more than a few minutes after undergoing surgery for cervical stenosis - the pinching of the spinal cord in the neck - in 2013.
He was also said to have suffered hallucinations, thinking he was back in the ring with Joe Frazier and George Foreman. Doctors feared the man world-famous for his razor sharp wit was developing dementia.
Hundreds of well-known figures are certain to be at his funeral in Louisville, which is expected to be on Wednesday.
Former president Bill Clinton will lead the eulogies and he will be joined by actor Billy Crystal and American TV sports presenter Bryant Gumbel.
The service will be open to the public and televised throughout the world.
Last night the official cause of Ali’s death, which occurred at 9.10pm local time. was given as septic shock due to unspecified natural causes.
Family spokesman Mr Gunnell told a press conference: “He did not suffer.”
He added: “All family members, his daughters, his wife, they all spent quality time with him, they were able to say their family goodbyes.
“It was a very solemn moment. It was a really beautiful thing to watch because it displayed all that was good about Muhammad Ali and the family displayed that with dignity. First there was sorrow and sadness, but it was done. The champ would have been very proud. It was very sad to lose a father, a brother, a cousin. It was done with kindness, like he lived.” Ali is survived by his nine children – including daughter Laila, who al s o became a world champion boxer – and his fourth wife, Lonnie.