The rock legend and Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne has passed away aged 76, following a long battle with Parkinsons, but his last days were full of love surrounded by his family
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has died aged 76, just two weeks after a final emotional performance with Black Sabbath.
The heavy metal icon passed away at his sprawling Buckinghamshire estate, surrounded by wife Sharon and their children, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Sources close to the grieving family said that his death was not expected to be this soon, but that his family were so grateful to get back together one last time for the Black Sabbath final show.
The Prince of Darkness died at the luxury mansion where Sharon Osbourne, 72, had been painstakingly preparing for this heartbreaking moment for over two years.
Daughters Aimee, 41, and Kelly, 40, had flown in from Los Angeles to be by their father’s side in his final days.
A family friend revealed to the Daily Mail: “Ozzy was always meant to come back to Britain to live in Buckinghamshire, it was where Sharon had spent so long preparing their family home for him.
“There was much hope that he would be around for a lot longer than this but at one point there were fears they would not get him back from Los Angeles for the concert earlier this month.”
They added: “Kelly has been at the house a lot in the last week or so, so has Aimee. It is terribly sad for all of them, they really hoped he would be able to carry on for a bit longer. But it’s so lovely that he had his children around him during his last days.”
The Black Sabbath frontman had only recently taken to the stage for what would be his final show, a historic reunion with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward at Villa Park on July 5. Son Jack, 39, flew in from Idaho to witness the emotional moment.
Despite his illness, Ozzy had been working with a ghost writer on a bombshell autobiography titled Last Rites, which he had hoped to live to see published.
The Osbournes bought their countryside bolthole back in 1993, and in recent years had made extensive plans to support Ozzy’s deteriorating health. Planning documents submitted last year reveal a full ‘rehab wing’ was being built, including a wellness studio, art space, spa, orangery, wet room and pool house, all designed to give Ozzy the care he needed.
Sharon had pulled out all the stops to bring her husband back home from California, where the family had lived for three decades, ensuring his final chapter played out on British soil, just as he wanted.
Sharon announced Ozzy’s death on social media earlier today.
The family’s statement declared: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
