Moses Malone Dies at 60

Hall of Fame basketball player Moses Malone saw a doctor about an irregular heartbeat less than a week before he died, Malone’s best friend Kevin Vergara said. Vergara spoke at length with the Times-Dispatch on Sunday night about Malone’s final years and his death. Malone, a Petersburg High School alumnus was found dead in a Norfolk hotel Sunday morning.

On Tuesday, Malone visited a doctor in Houston, where he lived. Malone was working out when he felt his heart skip a beat. The doctor found nothing wrong, but gave Malone a heart monitor. When Malone was found Sunday, he was wearing his heart monitor.

Police and EMS responded, and they told Vergara that Malone probably died of in his sleep.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for Virginia said Malone died of natural causes. The cause of death was listed as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

“He was always very health-minded,” said Vergara, who noted Malone didn’t drink or do drugs, and skipped sodas and fried foods in favor of grilled chicken, fish and salad. “He’s vigorous about working out.”

-Luis Martinez