The death of WWE legend Hulk Hogan, 71, has raised fresh questions after reports suggested a surgical error may have “compromised” his phrenic nerve.
Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, told TMZ Sports that a recent procedure may have caused complications, adding to concerns about the circumstances of his passing.
Law enforcement documents indicate that an occupational therapist present at Hogan’s Clearwater, Florida, home when he stopped breathing informed authorities that a surgeon “severed” the phrenic nerve during surgery.
Police discussions about the incident were captured on body cameras, though the footage remains confidential.
The phrenic nerve is critical for breathing, as it controls the diaphragm.
Medical experts, including those at the Cleveland Clinic, note that damage to this nerve can cause severe breathing difficulties or respiratory failure.
Official records from the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center list Hogan’s cause of death as a heart attack.
He had a history of irregular heartbeat and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a blood cancer affecting white blood cells.
Despite the official ruling, Hogan’s family has expressed concerns about whether his recent surgery contributed to his passing.
Brooke Hogan, 37, has sought further clarity on her father’s death.
She has offered to fund an additional autopsy