American Pickers’ Frank Fritz, 56, found ‘sprawled on floor’ panicked pal reveals in horrifying 911 call before stroke
AMERICAN Pickers’ Frank Fritz was found “sprawled out on the floor” as his panicked pal revealed in a horrifying 911 call before his stroke.
The Sun can exclusively reveal the harrowing emergency call was placed over a week ago to Frank’s Iowa home by a friend of the former American Pickers star.
“Okay tell me exactly what happened,” the dispatcher asked Frank’s friend who appeared to have gone to the star’s home to check on him.
“I just showed up at my friend’s house here and he was sprawled out on his floor. He can’t speak to me. He might be seizuring (sic) I’m not sure.”
“Okay, stay on the phone, don’t hang up,” the dispatcher responded.
The call to the 56-year-old’s home was placed on July 14th just before 11 am.
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The 911 call log noted that his friend had gone to check on Frank, and that’s when he found him sprawled out on the floor and unable to speak.
PRAYERS FOR FRANK
Last week, Frank’s former co-star Mike Wolfe asked fans of American Pickers to pray for Frank.
Mike, 58, made a lengthy statement on Instagram to share the sad news about his estranged friend.
He began: “I have been very private in the past year in regards to Frank’s life and the journey he’s been on. There have been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to pray for my friend.
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“Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts.”
Mike concluded: “Frank, I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you, buddy.”
Fans rushed in to share their best wishes in the comments.
“Prayers to a full recovery!” wrote one.
Another shared: “I’m so sorry to hear this and I hope the two of you were able to heal old wounds.”
A third added: “Oh my god no! He’ll pull through.”
SHOW SHAKEUP
The shocking news of Frank’s stroke comes one year after he was fired from his role on American Pickers.
He last appeared on the show during a March 2020 episode, before he took time off to recover from a grueling back surgery that left him with 185 stitches and two rods in his spine.
Mike was the one who publicly revealed that Frank had been booted from the show in July 2021.
Although they were childhood friends, Frank exclusively revealed to The Sun that Mike has not reached out to him since he was fired from the show.
“I haven’t talked to Mike in two years,” he said.
“He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is.”
Since Frank was let go, The Sun has revealed that the show’s ratings have plummeted to under one million viewers for the first time in years.
Viewers have claimed that it is “unwatchable” without Indiana native Frank.
HEALTH HISTORY
In an effort to turn his life around, Frank recently lost 65 pounds and he was believed to be living a healthier lifestyle and avoiding alcohol.
He told The Sun last year that he checked into rehab for alcohol abuse for 77 days.
It came after his nasty split from longtime girlfriend turned ex-fiancée Diann Bankson.
Frank said of their breakup: “I tried to drink her away. I never drank that much before.”
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The vintage enthusiast also suffers from Crohn’s disease, which he has been battling for over 30 years.
Besides his health issues, Frank had been working on his own Illinois antique shop since he was let go by The History Channel.