Swayze had lost battle to cancer day before death was announced

London, September 25 (ANI): Actor Patrick Swayze had lost his battle with pancreatic cancer the day before his death was announced to the world, says a U.S. tabloid.

Although the date stated on the ‘Ghost’ star’s death certificate is September 14, the National Enquirer claims that his grieving family had said their final goodbyes to the actor in a cowboy-style wake 24 hours before.

The paper has cited a family insider as revealing that Swayze was bedridden at his Los Angeles home in the week leading up to his death, and slipped into a coma after being heavily medicated.

The source said that Swayze’s wife Lisa Niemi called the actor’s mother Patsy and brother Donny in the early hours of 13 September, and that the trio kept a bedside vigil for more than an hour before he passed away.

“It was down to a matter of moments. They walked in and stood around Patrick’s bed. Patsy and Lisa held his hands and told him it was time to stop fighting. They told him they loved him and it was okay to go,” the Daily Express quoted the source as having told the paper.

“By 10am he was gone. Lisa, Don and Patsy all sat quietly with him for a while,” the source added.

According to the insider, Niemi later prepared Swayze’s body for a “cowboy wake”.

The source said: “First Lisa removed the medicine and supplies from the room. Then she cleaned up Patrick and dressed him in a nice shirt and slacks. The bed linens were changed and Patrick was laid back down on the bed. He looked like he was napping. He was so peaceful.”

Forty of the actor’s close friends and family were invited to pay their respects to Swayze on the day of his death, before his body was taken away by a coroner.

“Some just stood there looking at Patrick, saying silent prayers. Some kissed him goodbye, and some told his family how wonderful and brave he had been, and that they’d never forget him,” the source said.

Swayze was reportedly cremated last week. His ashes will be scattered across his beloved ranch in New Mexico later this month. (ANI)