Jeff Buckley died on May 29, 1997, at the age of 30. The cause of his death was accidental drowning. The incident took place in Wolf River Harbor, a channel of the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee.
On that fateful evening, Buckley decided to go for a late-night swim with a friend. Fully clothed, he waded into the water near the Memphis waterfront and began singing an a cappella rendition of “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin. Shortly after, a passing boat created a wake, causing Buckley to be pulled under the water. His friend, Keith Foti, tried to swim towards him but struggled against the strong currents.
Buckley’s body was not found until a few days later, on June 4, 1997. It was discovered by a passenger on a riverboat who noticed his body floating near a construction site in the river. The authorities were contacted, and Buckley’s remains were identified.
The official autopsy report concluded that there were no drugs or alcohol in Buckley’s system at the time of his death. It is important to note that Buckley had a history of depression and had struggled with substance abuse in the past. However, there was no evidence to suggest that his death was a result of suicide or intentional self-harm.
The tragic accident left fans mourning the loss of a young and immensely talented musician. Jeff Buckley’s untimely death cut short a promising career and left a lasting impact on the music industry. He is remembered as a masterful singer-songwriter, leaving behind a powerful and influential body of work.
