Desmond Tutu Dead at 84 after Readmission into Hospital: Hoax

Story:

SAD NEWS: Desmond Tutu Dead At 84 After Readmission On Saturday.

Other Versions

Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu passed away in Hospital.

Picture Suggesting Desmond Tutu Dead at 84 after Readmission into Hospital — Desmond Tutu Dead at 84 after Readmission into Hospital

Analysis:

Certain stories doing rounds on social media state that Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Emeritius Desmond Tutu has Died at the age of 84 after Readmission into Hospital. It is said that he passed away after battling with illness for some time. It is a fact that Desmond Tutu was hospitalized, but the death claims are plain hoaxes.

Readmission into Hospital

The South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop, Desmond Tutu underwent a surgical procedure in September 2016 to address the cause of recurring infections related to the past treatment of his Prostate Cancer. On 17 September, he was readmitted to hospital in Cape Town due to an infection developing at the site of surgery.

Death Rumor

On 20 September 2016, T1MES LIVE website t1meslive.co.za published a story saying Desmond Tutu died at the age of 84 after readmission to hospital. It was also said that Tutu’s wife, Leah, confirmed the sad death news in a statement. Soon social media sites like Twitter were flooded with ‘news’ of Tutu’s death. The fact of matter, however, is that T1MES LIVE website is a satirical publication that mostly publishes fictional stories, as mentioned in their site Disclaimer.

Screenshot of story on t1meslive website

Recovering and Back to Home

Desmond Tutu’s daughter‚ Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth explained that her father was healing very well and that the doctors were also pleased with his progress, after he had been treated with antibiotics for the infection. Talking about the death hoax message, she said it was “incredibly unkind not only to the family but to people around the world who really do love and care and support the Arch“. Notably, few days after the treatment, Desmond Tutu was discharged from hospital on 21 September morning to continue his convalescence at home. So the claim that Desmond Tutu passed away in hospital is just a hoax that originated from a satirical publication.