Harrowing new details about Limp Bizkit bassist's sudden death emerge

On Saturday (October 19), metal group Limp Bizkit were flooded with tributes after it was confirmed their bassist Sam Rivers, 48, had died. In their emotional statement, they broke the devastating news to fans: "In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers. Today we lost our brother. Our bandmate. Our heartbeat." They added: "Sam Rivers wasn't just our bass player - he was pure magic. The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound."

Although a cause of death has yet to be revealed, new details have emerged about his health leading up to his tragic death. This comes after a spokesman for the St Johns County, Florida, Fire Rescue told TMZ that they responded to a call for a "nonresponsive person in cardiac arrest" on Saturday. In addition to this, a representative for the St Johns County Sheriff told the outlet that "deputies responded to an attended death at that address."

According to the American Institute of Crime Scene Integrity, an attended death is "in which the decedent has been a patient under medical care for a serious or life-threatening illness that will likely lead to death in a relatively short period of time (days or months, but not years)."

While Sam's moments leading up to his death remain unknown, the bassist was open about his multiple health struggles

The musician previously revealed in 2017 that he underwent a liver transplant after "excessive drinking" led to liver disease.

Speaking to Variety, Sam shared: "I got liver disease from excessive drinking... I had to leave Limp Bizkit in 2015 because I felt so horrible, and a few months after that I realised I had to change everything because I had really bad liver disease."

He added: "I quit drinking and did everything the doctors told me. I got treatment for the alcohol and got a liver transplant, which was a perfect match."

After initially blaming his exit on back problems, Sam later rejoined the band in 2018 and remained in the group until his death.

In their joint statement, his bandmates Fred Durst, John Otto, Wes Borland and DJ Lethal continued: "From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.'

The group continued: 'We shared so many moments - wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones - and every one of them meant more because Sam was there."

In the heart-wrenching post, they called him "a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human" and "a true legend of legends."

They concluded: "And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory. We love you, Sam. We'll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends. - Fred, Wes, John & DJ Lethal."