Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen gives health update after brutal attack at Florida hotel
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA: Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen has issued a forgiving statement saying, "Your love and prayers are truly helping," and that he is "working on recovering in a safe space," following the brutal attack last week. The 59-year-old was smoking a cigarette outside the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale near the valet on Sunday, March 12, when a 19-year-old Max Hartley allegedly knocked him over, causing him to fall on the ground and take a big hit to his head. Later, the assailant also attacked an unidentified woman who was trying to help Allen.
In his emotionally heartfelt note, the legendary artist says, "Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space." Allen and his family are focusing their attention on "healing for everyone involved," although the drummer did not elaborate on his remark, reported ABC News, according to TMZ.
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Allen continues, "We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy. We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people." "To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community, we are thinking of you all. Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times," he concluded. However, the artist does not mention his perpetrator. The terrifying incident occurred while Allen, who lost his arm in a fatal car crash in 1984, and the band were staying in the Fort Lauderdale area for their co-headlining show with Motley Crue in the city.
(Fort Lauderdale PD)
Furthermore, police arrested the 19-year-old Hartley, an Ohio resident, who was visiting the Fort Lauderdale area where he allegedly attacked Allen. Fort Lauderdale Police said they arrested him near the Conrad hotel where he damaged numerous vehicles in the parking garage. At the time of the attack, the drummer claimed he wanted his perpetrator to be prosecuted, however, it seems over time, Allen has changed his mind. Hartley was charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and a count of abusing an elderly or disabled adult with great harm. Although a motive for the callous attack was not revealed. Moreover, two days after the attack, the 19-year-old posted bail on Tuesday, March 14, at the Broward County Jail.