Photo: Wenn
Deftone’s bassist Chi Cheng has died after being in a coma for five years following a 2008 car crash.
The 42-year-old bassist’s family posted on fan site oneloveforchi.com that he was taken to the emergency room where he died at 3am when his heart suddenly stopped.
“He left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear,” mother Jeanne Marie Cheng wrote.
Vocalist Chino Moreno confirmed Cheng’s death on Facebook, but the band have not made an official statement yet.
Cheng suffered major injuries after a car crash in Santa Clara in 2008 which left him in a coma. The bassist and his sister collided with another car and their vehicle was sent rolling.
Cheng, who was driving, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the car. His sister was wearing a seatbelt and suffered only minor injuries.
At the time Moreno wrote on the band’s blog, “Chi is one of the strongest people I know, and I’m praying that his strength will get him through this.”
Since the accident Cheng had been making slow but steady progress. In 2009 it was reported that his state had been officially changed from being in a coma to being in a semi-conscious state.
In 2010 doctors said he was showing signs of improved neuro functions, and recently had gained limited ability to move his legs on command.
Chi Cheng helped found the Deftones in the late 80s
The Oneloveforchi website, set up by fan Gina Blackmore, has provided the majority of updates regarding Cheng, with his family regularly posting on the site.
Cheng’s mother, ‘Mom J’, wrote in the family’s statement that the bassist had ‘fought a good fight’ and asked that fans share any stories of messages on the onelove site.
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