Hart Family Member Says Jerry Lawler Was "Clinically Dead" For Twenty Minutes

Smith Hart, brother of WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart, says he was told by a friend backstage at Monday's Raw at Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that Jerry Lawler was "clinically dead" for twenty minutes before being revived by a defibrillator.

He wrote on Twitter, "According to my friend Jeremy Prophet who was backstage at RAW, Jerry was clinically dead for 20 min before being brought back by defibrilat."

According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, clinical death is the medical term for cessation of blood circulation and breathing, which are two necessary criteria to sustain life. This occurs when the heart stops beating in a regular rhythm and is also known as cardiac arrest.

Hart noted that "it has been confirmed that Jerry did suffer a heart attack." Since medical personnel were at ringside, Lawler was able to receive immediate treatment.

According to Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer, Lawler remains in stable condition. He is breathing on his own and his heart is beating on its own, but is considered not out of danger.