BREAKING: US senator and war hero John McCain is dead, Trump, Obama, Clinton react
- The two-time presidential candidate passed away on Saturday evening at his home
- He died at the age of 81 after long battle with cancer and shortly after he stopped treatment
- The Republican was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, called glioblastoma, in 2017
- McCain was first elected senator in 1986 and remained vocal in the Senate despite his illness
- He was one of the biggest critic of some of President Donald Trump's policies
Celebrated United States (US) senator and war hero John McCain has passed on after long battle with brain cancer. The Republican congressman died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm, a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped medical treatment.
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Arizona Senator John McCain died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped his treatment.Photo: WhrRadio.
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A statement issued by the late senator's office indicated he died in his home in Arizona with his family and friends around to say goodbye.
The congressman was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, identified as glioblastoma, in 2017 and was undergoing treatment until recently when he and the family decided to stop the radiation and chemotherapy.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 24, McCain's family said the senator had decided to end his treatment after it became clear there was nothing humanly possible they could do to save his life.
"Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John surpassed expectations for his survival. With his usual strength of will, he chose to discontinue medical treatment," the family noted.
The Friday announcement left McCain's colleagues shaken despite having braced for the worst following his cancer prognosis in 2017.
It effectively closed a tumultuous Washington career that included two unsuccessful presidential runs and saw McCain emerge as a singular political figure.
In 2000, McCain challenged George Bush for the Republican presidential nomination and lost.
And in 2008, the senator ran against former President Barrack Obama and once again did not succeed in his quest for the presidency.
McCain, who retired from the Navy before joining politics, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 and had become a vehement critic of President Donald Trump, especially with regard to the push to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Meanwhile, leaders from across the world continue to pay tributes to the fallen American war veteran.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that John McCain had organised his own funeral in anticipation of his impending death. The US senator banned President Donald Trump from attending the mock funeral preferring Vice President Mike Pence instead.
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Source: Naija.ng