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Def Leppard's one-armed drummer Rick Allen shares health update after being violently assaulted 'by teenager'

Home> Celebrity

Updated 15:10 20 Mar 2023 GMTPublished 15:09 20 Mar 2023 GMT

Def Leppard's one-armed drummer Rick Allen shares health update after being violently assaulted 'by teenager'

Allen was thrown to the ground in the attack

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has shared an update on his wellbeing after he was allegedly assaulted by a teenager.

Police arrested 19-year-old Max Hartley, from Ohio, after the attack took place on 13 March outside the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

Hartley allegedly came up behind Allen, 59, while he was smoking a cigarette outside the hotel. He is accused of throwing the drummer to the ground and causing him to hit his head.

Hartley was arrested in the wake of the attack.
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When a woman tried to interfere, Hartley is said to have hit her and dragged her by her hair, a police report claimed.

Allen, who has played the drums with one hand ever since losing his arm in an accident in 1984, didn't immediately speak out about the attack, but took to Twitter this weekend to share an update and thank fans for their 'overwhelming support'.

"Your love and prayers are truly helping," he wrote in the tweet, which also featured a picture of himself.

The 13 March attack came just one day after Def Leppard played a gig at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, and Allen said his wife, Lauren, was 'thankfully' not with him when the events unfolded.

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However, he assured they are now together and 'working on recovering in a safe space'.

"We are focusing on healing for everyone involved," the drummer continued. "We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy. We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people."

Allen thanked fans for their support.
Twitter/@rickallenlive

Allen continued: "To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all. Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times."

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Fans were quick to send their well-wishes in response to Allen's statement, with one writing: "So glad to hear from you! I was really worried. Head injuries are always seriously.... thanks for the update! Stay strong! You're a fighter!"

Allen gave a statement to the police following the attack and confirmed he would like Hartley to be punished.

Police managed to catch the alleged attacker shortly after the incident, finding him in the parking lot of a nearby hotel, the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Hilton.

He has since been charged with four counts of criminal mischief, one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of aggravated battery.

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Def Leppard are currently in the midst of a world tour, and are next set to appear in their hometown of Sheffield at Bramall Lane on 22 May.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Suzan Moore / WENN Rights Ltd

Topics: Music, Crime, US News

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

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