Tamil actor Vivekh passes away at 59, celebrities offer condolences
Popular Tamil actor-comedian Vivekh passed away on Saturday after suffering a massive heart attack on Friday. He was 59. He was admitted to the SIMS Hospital in Vadapalani, Chennai, on Friday morning after he collapsed at home. Doctors resuscitated him but his condition kept deteriorating from around 2 am on Saturday. The actor died at 4:35 am today, claimed reports.
Resuscitation at the hospital had taken 45 minutes
A medical bulletin says Vivekh went through an "emergency coronary angiogram followed by angioplasty" on Friday. Dr. Raju Sivaswamy, Vice President, Medical Services, SIMS said he had been put on inotropic support to help with the heartbeat. But blood pressure started fluctuating from early Saturday and his health declined. The doctor added that resuscitation had taken about 45 minutes after Vivekh was admitted.
'His tissues suffered damage when blood returned to organs'
"There is a condition called reperfusion injury that might occur after this [resuscitation] procedure and causes damage to tissues when the blood returns to the organ. He could not survive this injury (sic)," the senior doctor added.
Speculations suggested his declining health was related to COVID-19 vaccination
Soon after the actor fell sick, there were reports linking his declining health to him receiving a jab of the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday. To quash the rumors, the Tamil Nadu Health Department had to call a press meet. TN Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said over 800 people were vaccinated with COVAXIN at the same hospital on Thursday and all of them are fine.
'Gone too soon': Rajinikanth, AR Rahman, Prakash Raj remember Vivekh
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami condoled the actor's demise and said "it is an irreparable loss for the Tamil film industry." The actor's untimely passing came as a shock to the industry fraternity. Many, including Rajinikanth, AR Rahman, Prakash Raj, remembered him on social media. Actor Mayilsamy, who shared screen space with Vivekh in Dhool, went to Saligramam, where his body has been kept.
'Thank you for empowering us with your wit and humour'
He is survived by his wife and two daughters
Director T Rajendar remembered the actor and said, "After NS Krishnan, actor Vivekh was someone who could make people laugh and think." "I have lost a valuable friend. Tamil cinema has lost a favorite son," penned actress Kasturi Shankar. The comedian is survived by his wife and two daughters. Notably, his son had passed away a few years ago after suffering from dengue.
He was last seen in 'Dharala Prabhu'
Launched in the Tamil film industry by legendary director K Balachander in the late 1980s, Vivekh soon impressed the audience with his comic timing. His last appearance was in Dharala Prabhu, the Tamil remake of Vicky Donor. In 2009, he had received the Padma Shri Award.
