Luke Perry's family on 'devastating' decision to turn off life support
When Luke Perry was rushed to hospital after suffering a massive stroke on February 27 his family were hopeful that he would pull through.
The 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale star was sedated to allow his body and brain to heal after the stroke, however friends and family were hopeful that he would be able to recover.
Luke Perry died after suffering a massive stroke. Getty
When his condition didn't improve after several days Perry's family, including fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer, were faced with the "devastating" decision of whether to keep him on life support or turn it off and allow him to pass.
"Luke's loved ones were hoping they'd pull him out of it after 48 hours or so," a source told Us Weekly. "But he never recovered. It was devastating."
Perry rose to fame on Beverly Hills, 90210. FOX
On March 4 his fiancée, along with Perry's two children Jack, 21, and Sophie, 18, and his ex-wife of a decade Rachel "Minnie" Sharp, decided to take him off life support. Perry's rep announced his death later that day.
Jack Perry, a wrestler known as 'Jungle Boy', later shared photos of himself with his father alongside an emotional tribute dedicated to Perry.
A throwback photo Jack Perry shared of his father, the late Luke Perry. Instagram
"He was a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, he was always Dad," Jack wrote. "He loved supported me in everything, and inspired me to be the best that I could possibly be.
"I'll miss you every day that I walk this earth."
Sophie Perry -- who raced back home from the African nation of Malawi, where she was doing charity work -- also thanked her late father's fans for their support, writing, "In the past 24 hours I have received an overwhelming amount of love and support."
"I cannot individually respond to the hundreds of beautiful and heartfelt messages, but I see them, and appreciate you all for sending positivity to my family and I."
Perry had been scheduled to appear in a minor role on Fox's six-episode revival of Beverly Hills, 90210, unable to commit full time due to his Riverdale filming commitments.
Co-stars from both shows have shared tributes to Perry in the wake of his death, posting photos and heartfelt messages to social media remembering him.
