Hulk Hogan's cause of death is now being called into question as new information emerges.
The professional wrestler died last month after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater Beach, Florida.
Emergency responders arrived at his residence around 10AM on July 24 and spent over an hour attempting to save the 71-year-old before he was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital.
It was reported that Hogan died after suffering from an "acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, in which is when blood flow to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, causing tissue damage, per the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center."
It was also disclosed that the superstar, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had a history of leukemia, a form of cancer that affects white blood cells, and atrial fibrillation, a common disorder that causes irregular heartbeats, per PEOPLE.
However, new details are now surfacing that suggest there may be more to the late star's cause of death than initially believed.
According to TMZ, an occupational therapist who was allegedly present at Hogan's home when he stopped breathing has claimed that a recent surgery could have contributed to his death.
The therapist, who reportedly told cops that Hogan's phrenic nerve was severed during the procedure, believes this may have caused the wrestling icon’s sudden breathing failure.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the phrenic nerve controls the diaphragm and is essential to a person's ability to breathe. It sends signals that make the diaphragm contract to allow the lungs room to expand and take in air, as well as to relax and push out the air.
The Clearwater Police Department responded to the claims by releasing a statement on Thursday (August 21), confirming that their investigation into Hogan’s death is ongoing.
"We have been in communication with family members - including his son, Nick, and daughter, Brooke. The unique nature of this case has required us to interview multiple witnesses and seek medical records from a variety of providers, and our detectives continue to do that. All of this takes time," they told the outlet.
"The Hogan family has been appreciative of our efforts and our communication with them," the department spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Hogan’s widow, Sky Daily, spoke to TMZ Sports about the surgery. She confirmed that her late husband's phrenic nerve was "compromised" during one of his recent operations.
She also declined to reveal the results of the autopsy, but revealed that Hogan’s body has not yet been cremated.
The police statement comes after Brooke Hogan, the wrestling legend's estranged daughter, shared an emotional Instagram story about the investigation.
In the post, she claimed that police bodycam footage and 911 dispatch calls may contain crucial information about her father’s death, and alleged that medical professionals and law enforcement officers who were present the day of Hogan's passing have reached out to her, urging her to review the footage.
The mom-of-two also stated that those professionals "feel so passionately about what they witnessed, they have continued to contact me and push me to find specific answers to this very day".
"I do not have answers as to if the officials who have contacted me about what they witnessed relayed this information to the medical examiner's office," she continued. "And if they did, I do not know why it wasn't taken into consideration."
Brooke, who hadn’t spoken to the wrestler in two years, alleged that the bodycam and 911 dispatch calls are not available through public records, and said she does not know why they remain “on lockdown”.
As the investigation into Hogan’s death progresses, the family is seeking clarity and has urged the public to refrain from further speculation, noting that they are already dealing with enough.
"I will not be talking about this ‘mystery’ anymore," Brooke added.