Elvis Presley was – and still is – arguably one of the most famous, influential and instantly recognisable faces in pop culture.
Nicknamed the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis played sold out arenas and lived the high life of a celebrity in his prime.
However, despite his luxurious lifestyle, Presley’s death was not so glamorous and during his final days the King was seriously unwell.
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From a number of health issues to a deadly cheeseburger habit, Elvis suffered a number of problems in the lead up to his death.
Keep reading to check out what the final days of the King looked like back in 1977.
Health issues
(Image: CBS via Getty Images)
Elvis was chronically constipated and was no doubt in a lot of pain during his last moments.
Presley also refused to bathe himself for virtually an entire year and had his needs cared for by a nurse that provided for him day and night.
The King was also covered in sores.
Throughout his final months, Elvis gained a whopping three and a half stone after he decided to lock himself away in his bedroom.
(Image: Getty Images)
Presley demanded cheeseburgers and feasted on the fast food staple day and night, which eventually left him at 25 stone.
Sadly, Elvis was also required to take many different pills and other medications due to his slowly deteriorating health.
It has been reported that Presley was prescribed almost 9,000 different drugs and injections during his last seven months.
His many health issues included glaucoma, hypertension, liver damage and an enlarged colon.
Loved ones’ concerns
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Elvis’s cousin Billy Smith has previously opened up about the performer’s mental and physical state toward the end of his life and gave heartbreaking insight into The King’s failing health.
Billy said that Elvis would sit in his bedroom and often talk about Monty Python, a British comedy show, and recite his favourite scenes and sketches.
Smith also recalled that Presley loved to tell stories from his life, but this was mainly overshadowed by “paranoid obsessions” that gripped the Rock and Roll icon.
(Image: Getty Images)
Elvis’s nurse Letitia Henley released a book after The King’s death and spoke about how Presley was miserable because he “missed Priscilla”.
She wrote: “He was miserable. He was depressed about ageing and not having a woman he loved. He missed Priscilla. His friends kept pimping him with pretty 17 and 18-year-old girls, but he had nothing in common with them.”
Elvis and Pricilla had separated five years prior back in 1972 and their divorce was later finalised in 1973.
The King’s last day
(Image: Getty Images)
During his final day of life, Elvis actually had a pretty busy schedule.
Presley reportedly went to the dentist during the night to search for prescription pills and later played racquetball with his cousin Billy at 4am.
Elvis’s late night antics continued and he reportedly took to the piano to belt his heart out to some of his favourite songs.
(Image: Getty Images)
Presley’s life was cut short soon after when he was found on the floor of his bathroom.
The singer was just 42 years old when he was found by his girlfriend at the time, Ginger Alden.
He was discovered on the floor with pyjamas around his ankles, a scene which reportedly looked as though he had fallen face first from the toilet.
The nation was rocked by the discovery and news of The King’s death quickly spread around the world.
After his death
(Image: Getty Images)
Ginger has previously spoken about what happened that fateful night and shared details about what Elvis looked like when she found him in the bathroom.
Alden wrote in her memoir that “it was clear he hadn’t moved” from the moment he “landed on the floor”.
She described Elvis with “his arms laying on the ground” and his “palms facing upwards” when she “turned his face towards her”.
Ginger explained: “A hint of air expelled from his nose. The tip of his tongue was clenched between his teeth and his face was blotchy. I gently raised one eyelid. His eye was staring straight ahead and blood red.”
Presley’s gruesome death was quickly analysed and an autopsy was made, the results of which were kept a secret by the singer’s family.
(Image: Redferns)
For 50 years, Presley’s loved ones were the only people that knew exactly what had happened to the Rock and Roll legend when he had died.
Eventually the information was released to the public and it was revealed that Elvis’ heart was swollen to almost double its size.
Sadly, Presley was in the advanced stages of cardiovascular disease and his lungs were covered in emphysema.
Possibly the worst part of Elvis’ suffering was his bowel, which was nearly double its normal size and contained four month old stool.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
