Petty accidentally overdosed on painkillers for hip injury
ROCK star Tom Petty died of an accidental overdose of powerful painkillers, it was revealed last night.
The legendary singer, 66, died at his Malibu home in October, a week after finishing a gruelling tour with his band, The Heartbreakers.
On Friday, coroner Jonathan Lucas said a post-mortem examination revealed signs of the strong opioid painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone along with other medication.
Petty’s wife Dana and daughter Adria wrote on the star’s Facebook page last night that he had been suffering ‘unbearable’ pain from a fractured hip, and this was the likely cause for his ‘overuse of medication’.
Petty’s hits over several decades included classics such as I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’ and American Girl. He was also a member of The Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and George Harrison.