Edward "Umaga" Fatu passed away around 6 p.m. EST after suffering a second heart attack while in the hospital. He was 36.Earlier Friday we reported that Fatu had been hospitalized in Houston with what was being called a "life-threatening condition." While many wrestling news sites were quick to pronounce him dead, ProWrestling.net reported that a family member said reports of his death were premature. However, multiple sources maintained that his situation was "extremely serious" and "grave" and that family members were told to rush to the hospital.
Reports say Fatu fell asleep Thursday night while watching television, only to be discovered several hours later by his wife, who found the wrestler not breathing and with blood coming from his nose. He was rushed to the hospital, where he suffered the second heart attack. Reports that he had been taken off of life support are inconsistent.
Fatu is most famous for his character "Umaga," a Samoan savage best known to the mainstream world as part of the Donald Trump vs. Vince McMahon "Battle of the Billionaires" at WrestleMania 23. He also competed as "Ekmo" in TNA Wrestling and as "Jamal" in both WWE and All Japan Pro Wrestling. Fatu was released from his WWE contract in June for a second violation of the company's wellness policy. He most recently was a performer on the Hulkamania Tour in Australia that concluded just last weekend.
On a personal note, Umaga participated in a couple of my very favorite matches from the last few years, including a cage match against Jeff Hardy and a Last Man Standing match against WWE champion John Cena that figuratively and literally tore the house down. He was a talented guy, and will be missed.
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