Chris Cornell’s bodyguard Martin Kirsten’s interview with Detroit Police following Cornell’s death has been released. You can read the statement in its entirety below:
What can you tell me about the incident that resulted in the death of Christopher Cornell?
“Christopher is the lead singer of Soundgarden. We completed a show at the Fox Theater at approximately 11:00 p.m. We had a police escort back to the hotel. Chris signed autographs and then we came up to the room. I gave him his 2 sleeping pills and went back to my room.”
What happened next?
“Chris called me and said that Apple TV was not working. I arranged for hotel IT to bring the remote that provides access to the hotel’s network. That was around 11:34 p.m.”
What happened next?
“I received a phone call from his wife Vicki. She sounded angry because he wasn’t responding to his phone. She told me to go to the room and check on Chris.”
Did you go to the room?
“I came to the room and was unable to get (in) because of the interior latch. I went back to my room and called for hotel security to come and open the door. They refused, saying that it wasn’t my room, although I told them that he was my employer and that I had a key.”
What did you do next?
“I told Vicki that they wouldn’t come open the door and she told me to kick it open. I did. Upon entry, I found the bedroom door locked. I called the hotel operator and told her that I needed security to open the bedroom door. They refused again, and I told them that I’m going to damage the hotel room and (they) need to send security, call 911 and call an ambulance.”
What happened next?
“I kicked the bedroom door 6-7 times before it somehow popped open. I went inside and the bathroom door was partially opened and I could see his feet.”
What was your next action?
“I saw the band around his neck. He was on the floor. I forced the band from wherever it was hanging and attempted (to) loosen the band from around his neck, and began chest compressions with I believe my left hand.”
Is there anything more that you can add about this incident?
“The hotel EMT came in, directed me to stand aside and she began working on him. Other personnel started arriving, hotel security, medical staff and EMs, and Detroit (police).”
“They conducted life saving protocols for a long time, maybe an hour. Then who I believe was a doctor called the time of death,” Kirsten said.
“Vicki was on the phone the whole time asking for updates,” Kirsten said. “She told me that she called the front desk and they hung up on her. It was a female. She called back a couple minute later and a male answered, saying that it was (the first) that he was hearing about the incident.”
