heartbreaking news: Rick Allen collapses on stage contert..

Rick Allen, the drummer for Def Leppard, provides a health update following a violent attack.

Drummer for Def Leppard Rick Allen is speaking out for the first time since a brutal attack that happened in South Florida on March 13.

For the first time, drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard is speaking up. “I appreciate all of your tremendous support, everyone. Your prayers and love are much appreciated. Fortunately, my wife Lauren [Monroe] was not with me when the incident occurred. We are currently together and focusing on our recovery in a secure environment,” reads a statement provided to ABC News on Allen’s behalf.on March 13, a vicious attack in South Florida.

“We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy,” the statement adds. We are aware that a great deal of individuals may be triggered by this violent conduct. We are thinking of all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our worldwide community. Love will help us all get through these trying times together.

A day after Def Leppard performed nearby last week, Max Edward Hartley is said to have attacked Allen outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida. The 59-year-old Allen was outside the hotel enjoying a cigarette when Hartley, who had been hiding behind a pole, raced toward him “at a full run” and knocked him to the ground. This is according to a Fort Lauderdale Police report. When Allen fell, he hit his head on the sidewalk.

The musician and the teenager don’t seem to have known each other before. Hartley, 19, an Ohio native, was charged with two counts of violence, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult after he was caught while allegedly on spring break in the Sunshine State.

In a vehicle accident in 1984, Allen lost his arm. After that, he used a specially designed kit to retrain himself to play the drums using only his right arm and both feet.

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