In a new interview published on August 8, country star Phil Vassar opened up about his near-death experience. “I was dead for 30 minutes a couple of times — died. No heartbeat. No heartbeat at all,” he said.
According to the multiplatinum singer-songwriter, he suffered two serious medical emergencies back in early 2023. The first was a heart attack, and the other was a stroke, both of which happened in a span of only a few days.
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He suffered a heart attack during his Christmas tour with “Strawberry Wine” singer Deana Carter. It occurred while he was home, and fortunately, someone was with him and was able to call 911. The first responders arrived, and they had to shock him 11 times, causing cracked ribs. “They did a heck of a job getting me back,” Vassar said.
While he didn’t remember any of what had happened at that time, he shared that leading up to it, he hadn’t been feeling well. He also revealed that he just had genetic heart disease and wasn’t a partier or a drinker and worked out every day. “It just caught up with me, you know, the genes.”
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While he was in the hospital recovering, he had a stroke 3 days later. He was immediately iced down, and then he dropped dead. He had no heartbeat for 30 minutes a couple of times.
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Many have asked him what it was like dying, but he didn’t have any memories of it. He mostly remembered not feeling well and being tired all the time. He didn’t expect it to happen because he was living a healthy lifestyle, but as his doctor pointed out to him, it can happen to anyone at any time. “I am just happy to be here today feeling as good as I do,” Vassar shared with Fox News Digital.
Since recovering, Phil Vassar has gone back to touring and has done a hundred shows. He also worked on a collaboration with Jeffrey Steele on a new track titled “Hillbillies in Hollywood,” his first after surviving two major health crises. “When you go through something as life-changing as a heart attack, you become more introspective and sentimental. I want to put out music that reflects that.”
