The cause of Ozzy Osbourne's demise has been officially ascertained. According to a death certificate acquired by The New York Times and The Sun, the iconic rock legend breathed his last due to "cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting" and "acute myocardial infarction," with coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease, complicated by autonomic dysfunction, cited as "concurrent factors." The Times reported that Osbourne's daughter, Aimee, filed the certificate at a London registry office. The frontman of Black Sabbath and a renowned reality TV personality, Osbourne passed away on Tuesday, July 22nd, at the age of 76.
"It is with an immeasurable heaviness of heart that we announce the passing of our beloved Ozzy Osbourne this morning," Osbourne's family conveyed in a statement to PEOPLE. "He was embraced by his family and bathed in love. We humbly request everyone to respect our family's privacy during this trying time."
Following the rock deity's demise, a spokesperson for Thames Valley Air Ambulance affirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that their helicopter was "dispatched to provide advanced life-saving measures at an incident near Chalfont St Giles on July 22nd." The Daily Mail was the first to report that the air ambulance was summoned to Osbourne's family residence and remained there for two hours rendering care before the rock legend succumbed.
Osbourne's family, comprising his wife Sharon and their children Louis, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, bid a heart-wrenching farewell to the rocker during a poignant funeral procession held on July 30th in Birmingham, England.
Just weeks prior to his passing, Osbourne reigned from a throne at Black Sabbath's farewell concert on July 5th in Birmingham, England—a live performance that marked his swansong and his first appearance with the band that propelled him to stardom in two decades.
In the years leading up to his final bow, Osbourne grappled with numerous health challenges. In January 2020, he disclosed his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder impacting movement, which he had been living with since 2003. At the time, he assured, "It's not the end."
Prior to that, in 2019, Osbourne sustained a fall at his Los Angeles home necessitating neck surgery. Nevertheless, the musician resiliently returned to the stage in August 2022, captivating an audience of 30,000 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The following month, he confided in PEOPLE about his desire to continue performing live despite his health struggles. "The only thing that reminds me I'm aging is when things go awry and stop working," Osbourne shared. "But in my heart, I still feel young."
In March 2023, his failing health compelled him to cancel a series of upcoming U.K. and European tour dates. Posting on Instagram, the singer revealed, "My singing voice remains intact. However, despite undergoing three surgeries, stem cell treatments, endless physiotherapy sessions, and most recently, groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Therapy, my body remains physically frail."
That same July, Osbourne rescinded his commitment to perform at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California, scheduled for October 2023. "My original intention was to remount the stage in the summer of 2024, and upon receiving this offer, I optimistically moved forward," he penned on Instagram.
The rock star also sat out his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that year.
When he finally took to the stage for the last time in July, Osbourne was perched atop a throne adorned with bats, featuring skull designs on each armrest. By then, his mobility had been significantly curtailed by Parkinson's disease.
Reflecting on his storied career in a 2007 interview with The Guardian, Osbourne described his life as an "unbelievable adventure," highlighting, "This has been an extraordinary journey for me." He added, "I vividly recall sitting on the steps of my house in Aston, daydreaming about what it would be like to be a Beatle. It feels like I've been in the music industry for 30, 40 years, and it's been nothing short of incredible."
In his final interview with PEOPLE in 2022, Osbourne declared, "Survival is my enduring legacy."
