Elvis’ Bodyguard Reveals the Heartbreaking Reason the Icon Avoided Being Touched Before His Death

The bodyguard of Elvis Presley has revealed the heartbreaking reason why the pop icon avoided being touched in the months leading up to his death. The legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll King was only 42 years old when he passed away from a heart attack at his home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.

According to a New York Times report, an autopsy indicated that Elvis died from arrhythmia, a condition where the heart beats irregularly and inefficiently, as confirmed by Dr. Jerry Francisco, the Shelby County Coroner.

Now, 47 years after the music world lost one of its most famous performers, Ted Pryor, author and former bodyguard of the late singer, has revealed more about the struggles leading to Elvis’s tragic death. Pryor stated that in the months before his passing, Elvis had become so unwell that he “didn’t want anyone to touch him,” explaining that he was constantly sweating and feeling overheated.

A Tragic Decline

At the time of his passing, Elvis was facing severe health problems. Pryor, who was also a super middleweight kickboxing champion, was hired by Elvis because of his martial arts expertise. He recalls that during Elvis’s younger days in the army, he had developed an interest in martial arts, which contributed to the decision to make Pryor part of his security team.

The former bodyguard described the opportunity to work with Elvis as an exciting and unique experience, given his fame and influence in the entertainment world. Pryor and his partner, Joe, were also involved in training Florida law enforcement, the FBI, and the DEA in self-defense techniques. Eventually, they were approached by Presley’s team to serve as bodyguards during his tours across the United States.

The Pressures of Touring

Pryor further explained that Elvis had to continue touring due to financial pressures caused by his manager at the time, Colonel Tom Parker, who had gambled away Elvis’s money. As a result, Presley was forced to hit the road despite his deteriorating health. Throughout the tours, Pryor witnessed the frenzy that surrounded Elvis wherever he went, especially from the women who would rush the stage to get close to their idol.

“Women would often rush the stage,” Pryor recalled. “It was intense because they would literally wrap their arms around him. We would gradually pull them down to the floor, and our younger bodyguards would escort them away.”

Pryor also recounted a disturbing incident in which a woman, who had received a scarf from Elvis, used it to choke him. “She tried to get close to Elvis,” he said, “and wrapped it around my neck and started choking me.”

Elvis’s Struggles and Bitterness

Reflecting on his time with Elvis, Pryor noted that while the singer was generally bitter and struggling with the loss of his mother and wife, he was always kind to his bodyguards. “He had lost his mother, lost his wife, and became bitter with women,” Pryor concluded.

The tragic circumstances surrounding Elvis Presley’s death have continued to be the subject of debate, with David Stanley, Elvis’s half-brother, recently speaking out about the singer’s tragic end. Stanley, now in his late 60s, has claimed that Elvis died due to an addiction to prescription drugs, and he firmly believes that the singer would still be alive if it weren’t for his drug use.

Stanley described the extent of Elvis’s addiction, revealing that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was consuming thousands of pills in the months before his death. He was particularly shocked by how many sleeping pills Elvis needed to take just to rest. Stanley told Express: “Doctors killed him… who needs 10,000 pills? Who needs 33 sleeping pills just to fall asleep at night? Who needs cocaine and amphetamines to wake up every day?”

He lamented: “And they said he had health problems… well, my friend, if you take that many pills, you’re bound to have health problems.”

A Life Cut Short

The revelations about Elvis’s struggles with health and addiction shed new light on the tragic circumstances leading to his untimely death. Despite his global fame and lasting legacy, Elvis’s life was marred by personal struggles and substance abuse that ultimately contributed to his early demise. The King’s story remains one of the most heartbreaking in music history, as fans continue to mourn the loss of a true icon.