UFC fighter Shane del Rosario needs 'miracle' to survive after heart attack
UPDATE: Earlier reports said UFC fighter Shane Del Rosario had passed away on Thursday, and cited confirmation from coach Colin Oyama and manager Jason House. However, Oyama told ESPN's Josh Gross that Del Rosario is still alive, but has no brain activity.
Shane Del Rosario hasn't passed, but @Lowkick told me "it is over." No brain activity & the family decided against putting him on a machine.
— Josh Gross (@JoshGrossESPN) November 28, 2013
Worth saying again: As slim as his chances are, Del Rosario hasn't passed away. Keep him in your thoughts. Be thankful for your life today.
— Josh Gross (@JoshGrossESPN) November 28, 2013
My brother friend and teammate is not gone yet no matter what you have heard! Pray for him. #ohana #prayforshane
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) November 28, 2013
There was a report from ESPN saying Del Rosario had died on their United Kingdom website with Gross' name on it, but he says he did not write it.
If you see an ESPN UK story with my byline saying Shane Del Rosario has died, ignore it. I didn't write that. Don't know what's up. Awful.
— Josh Gross (@JoshGrossESPN) November 28, 2013
The confusion in the media about his passing (UFC president Dana White posted "R.I.P. Shane Del Rosario" on Twitter) may have come from doctors telling Del Rosario's family to say goodbye because the prognosis did not look good. UFC writer Ariel Helwani has more details about the situation:
"I just spoke to his manager Jason House again. He said the doctors are waiting a full 72 hours (which would end tomorrow AM) to see if he responds to the treatment he received. The treatment essentially was they cooled his body down considerably in an effort to revitalize his organs and brain. He has not responded to that treatment, it appears. He has no brain activity right now," Helwani wrote on Twitter.
"Officially, he is still on life support right now at the hospital. House said, 'there is a very, very, very slim chance' he survives. Unfortunately, House said del Rosario would need 'a miracle.' The doctors have advised his friends and family to say their goodbyes today."
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UFC heavyweight Shane del Rosario passed away on Thursday, two days after suffering cardiac arrest.
Del Rosario's coach Colin Oyama posted the following message on Facebook on Thursday:
"The Del Rosario family and I, and all of our family, team-mates and friends thank everyone for their prayers and support. God has a different path for Shane to take and instead has chosen to take Him away from us to be with his forefathers in Heaven. Yet through all of this our Faith in GOD remains unwavering."
UFC president Dana White posted this message on his Twitter page.
RIP Shane Del Rosario pic.twitter.com/M0MzCKJgTK
— Dana White (@danawhite) November 28, 2013
Del Rosario had an 11-2 record during his mixed martial arts career.