Jim Irsay was found lying unresponsive in his bed, cold to the touch and struggling for air during a suspected overdose in December, according to police in Indiana.
Documents from the Carmel Police Department, obtained by TMZ Sports, reveal that officers were called to Irsay’s Carmel residence on Dec. 8 around 4:30 AM, after someone discovered the Indianapolis Colts owner unconscious on a bathroom floor with a blue skin tone.
Upon arrival, police found Irsay had been moved to his bed, where he was struggling to breathe, had a weak pulse, and constricted pupils.
According to the police documents, the attempt to revive him with a sternum rub was unsuccessful. However, after receiving one dosage of Narcan, a drug commonly used to counteract opiate overdoses, he responded slightly.
Although the officers were prepared to use an AED on Irsay, paramedics arrived and took over the life-saving efforts. Irsay was then transported to a nearby hospital via an ambulance.
The police noted in the documents that a caretaker provided them with a list of medications Irsay had been taking. However, it was unclear what Mr. Irsay had ingested prior to their arrival. The incident was classified in the documents as both an “overdose” and “overdose/poisoning.”
Following the incident, Irsay had been absent from his Colts’ team, and on Jan. 9, the team announced that he had been battling a “severe respiratory illness.” The Colts stated in a release that he would miss a scheduled appearance in Los Angeles with his band, “Jim Irsay Band,” as he received treatment for the ailment.
The Colts stated, “He is receiving excellent care and looks forward to returning to the stage as soon as possible. We’ll have no additional information at this time and we ask that you respect the privacy of Jim and his family as he recovers.”
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is grateful to be alive after years of addiction nearly destroyed him. In his first in-depth interview, Irsay details his painful journey with our @Andrea_Kremer. The new episode of #RealSports streams tomorrow, only on @streamonmax. pic.twitter.com/TQ2Tq2Vcle
— Real Sports (@RealSportsHBO) November 20, 2023
@RealSportsHBO
It is unclear whether Irsay’s recent hospitalization is connected to the December incident at his home.
In an interview with Andrea Kremer in November, Irsay, who has been the owner of the Colts since 1997, disclosed his struggles with alcohol and pain pills addiction, necessitating at least 15 stints in rehab. He also revealed that he had previously experienced an overdose while “trying to detox myself.”
“All of a sudden I started slurring my words and then code blue, I stopped breathing,” he recounted to Kremer about the overdose. “And they revived me, and the doctor goes, ‘Jim, you’re one lucky man because I had signed, virtually, the death certificate.'”
We have attempted to reach out to Irsay, but have not received a response yet.
FAQs
What happened to Jim Irsay in December?
Jim Irsay was found unresponsive, with a blue skin tone, and struggling to breathe in a suspected overdose incident at his home in December.
How did the police respond to the incident?
Upon arriving at the scene, the police found Irsay struggling to breathe, with a weak pulse and constricted pupils. They administered Narcan, a drug commonly used to counteract opiate overdoses, and eventually transported him to a nearby hospital.
What was the Colts’ statement about Jim Irsay’s health?
The Colts announced that Irsay had been battling a severe respiratory illness and was receiving treatment, leading to his absence from the team’s activities.