Taylor Hawkins may have suffered from a heart attack, health chiefs in Bogota have suggested after "white powder" was reportedly found in his hotel room.
The tragic Foo Fighters drummer, 50, suffered "chest pains" which sparked a medical emergency, the City Health Department said in a statement.
They confirmed that an ambulance had been called to the scene, but a mobile response unit from EMI was already at the scene, with a health professional dealing with the emergency.
While attempts had been made to revive Hawkins, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The statement read: "With regards to the death of the American musician Taylor Hawkins in the neighbourhood of Chapinero, which happened on Friday night, the City Health Department states the following:
“The city’s Emergency Regulation Centre received an alert about a patient with chest pain in a hotel located in the north of the city.
“An ambulance was sent to attend to this case. However when the health department teams arrived, they found a mobile response unit from the company EMI at the scene. “
“The health professional that was dealing with the emergency indicated attempts to revive the patient had been carried out but there had been no response and the patient was pronounced dead.
“The relevant authorities removed the body and started work on the investigations required as part of these types of incidents.
“We regret the death of this talented and world-famous drummer and send a message of condolences to his family, bandmates and fans.”
The statement made no mention of drugs, despite the fact police had alluded to Mr Hawkins’ death possibly being drug-related earlier in the day.
Local reports had already referred to hotel staff at Casa Medina, the luxury hotel Taylor was staying at, calling in emergency responders after the drummer suffered chest pains.
The Metropolitan Police of Bogota, in comments carried by several Colombian newspapers, said before the official statement put out by the health department: “The cause of death has yet to be established.
“According to those close to him, the death could be related to the consumption of drugs."
Colombian authorities are already said to have interviewed the musician’s manager and security personnel.
Investigators have reportedly requested CCTV footage from inside the hotel.
One unconfirmed local report said several glasses were found inside the drummer’s room, sparking speculation he had been entertaining guests before his death.
Well-known Colombian journalist Luis Carlos Velez, the Bogota-based director of radio station FM, claimed earlier today/yesterday (SAT) a police officer who entered Hawkins’ room had told prosecutors he saw a “cocaine-like” white powder.
Respected Colombian newspaper El Tiempo said a confidential report it had been informed about pointed to hallucinogens, mind-altering drugs that can include LSD, being found inside the hotel room.
