Devil’s Highway and ex- Deicide, Obituary etc. guitarist Ralph Santolla has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday (29th) evening. According to the guitarist’s mother, Sue Santolla-Rocha, revealed he’s in a coma and his condition appears critical. Rocha sadly mentioned, “hope is very slim.”
Read her full post below:
“Friend and family..it is out there now so let me tell you what I know. Ralph thought he had a spider bite on Saturday. Went to the hospital. It was not a spider bite, it was a blood clot. Tuesday nite he fell and he had a heart attack. John Rocha gave him CPR until EMT arrive. His heart had stopped but they got him back. His visuals are staple but he is in a coma. He is on a ventilator but he is breathing around it he could breathe on his own but they do not want to had additional strain to his body. He is in a coma. That is the main concern at this moment. They can fix everything else. We are having as many of his friends as he can come and talk to him and play music. There has been a minimal movement but some. It is ICU but he is in a private room and they are letting anyone in and they can stay as long as they want. So please pray as he has people all over the world praying and if you can come and spend time with him. Please..he needs to get back from the place that he is in. I love you all…let’s just work on getting him out of the coma if we can. I will keep everyone update the best I can st Joseph hospital. Van dyke rd Tampa”
“Dr just left they are going to do neurological tests later today. Hope is very slim. If you want to see him please come
St Joseph Nortel van dyke rd”
Santolla was with Deicide on/off from 2005 up until 2011’s To Hell With God. Before rejoining Decide, Santolla joined Obituary back in 2007 and stayed until 2009’s Darkest Day. He has also performed live with Death back in 1993 as well as Iced Earth from 2003-2004.
We wish Santolla has a safe and healthy recovery.
