Iconic WWE star Barry Windham is being treated in an an intensive care unit after his niece confirmed he had suffered a "massive heart attack."
Windham, 62, went into cardiac arrest as he travelled through Atlanta airport on Friday, and was taken to hospital before undergoing an emergency operation. His family have since set up a GoFundMe page as they seek help with the medical costs, with donations having already neared £2,500.
Windham competed in the first ever Wrestlemania in 1985, where his US Express team dropped the world tag team titles to The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. He also appeared in other promotions, most notably in Ric Flair's 'The Four Horseman' stable in both NWA and WCW.
The famous figure has also seen his family legacy continued through nephews Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas, with Wyatt a former WWE champion who has recently made a high profile return to Smackdown. Their sister Mika Rotunda, the daughter of Barry’s brother Mike Rotunda, used the GoFundMe account to inform fans of the concerning news.
In a lengthy post, she wrote: "With deep sadness I regret to inform that my uncle, WWE Hall of Famer, Barry Windham suffered a massive heart attack Friday evening. As a family, we are impatiently waiting to hear that he will be okay. But as of now, the future is uncertain."
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Former wrestling stars encountering health problems in later life has become a harrowing, but also common concept. And Mike added her uncle's profession had already led to previous health concerns.
"For those who have formerly devoted their lives to their craft. Barry Windham, has an iconically, decorated resume as an American professional wrestler. He traveled all over the world for decades, entertaining people of all ages with his athleticism and undeniable charisma," she said.
"After those countless years of wrestling matches, traveling and entertaining world wide, he experienced a number of taxing injuries and ended up undergoing multiple surgeries. That led to other health complications. Barry hung his boots for the last time in the early 2000’s. Since then he has been limited with work due to his medical history as well as left without health insurance."
Windham appeared at the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame show with Flair, J.J. Dillon, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard as The Four Horsemen were inducted. Mika added the icon was now facing "extensive medical expenses."
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