Tanya Roberts' Partner Explains Why He Thought She'd Died | 22 Words

In a bizarre twist of events, it was revealed last week that actress Tanya Roberts had not died, despite various media outlets claiming otherwise.

 

Her "death" was reported over the Christmas period...

via: Getty

 And, almost instantly, both fans and those close to the actress went into a state of shock and mourning.

Of course, no one questioned the legitimacy of the reports that were flooding in...

via: Getty

 Not even her long-term partner, Lance O'Brien, who has this week opened up about how he genuinely believed she had passed away. Here's the full story...

Rumor's of Tanya's death first surfaced on December 24th.

TMZ first reported that the sixty-five-year-old actress, who initially rose to fame as Roger Moore’s love interest in A View to a Kill had collapsed at home following a walk with her dog.

The publication then reported that Tanya had been taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles...

Where she was swiftly placed onto a ventilator.

Her publicist, Mike Pingel, then confirmed that she had passed away.

His statement quickly led numerous media outlets, 22 Words included, to unknowingly publish false stories saying that she had died.

Of course, no one questioned these headlines...

And, very quickly, tributes to the actress came flooding in from heartbroken fans from all over the world.

Even her former That 70's Show costars made their tributes.

Actress Debra Jo Rupp shared a photo of herself and Tanya on set, writing: "Tanya had a big deep hearty laugh. She was all instinct and beauty. In the first season of 70's, we had a scene in the kitchen, drinking cocktails and laughing together. She laughed, spit her drink in my face, apologized profusely, and did it 3 more times. I loved her. RIP beauty."

Topher Grace quickly followed suit...

Sharing a photo of Tanya and paying homage to her onscreen character by writing: "We'll miss you Midge."

However, in the hours following Pingel's damning announcement...

There was a sudden change of events.

Pingel suddenly retracted his claim.

via: Getty

 The actress' publicist told the Associated Press that Tanya was, indeed, still alive as of 10 am in California, but was in a poor condition.

He added that he was awaiting further updates on Roberts’ condition...

via: Getty

 And then told the PA news agency that her family was waiting for further news from medics, adding, “It does not look good."

Of course, people were very confused by his sudden retraction...

How can someone be reported as dead when, to put it simply, they are quite visibly alive?

And, to make this whole scenario even stranger...

It emerged that her long-term partner, Lance O'Brien, had also believed that Tanya had died.

But he quickly discovered the truth...

During a television interview with Inside Edition - I know, just when you thought the story couldn't get any more bizarre.

As Inside Edition’s Steven Fabian was interviewing Lance, he received a phone call...

via: Inside Edition

 And, upon answering it, he could be heard exclaiming: "Now, you are telling me she's alive?"

"Thank the lord!"

via: Inside Edition

 Becoming visibly emotional, Lance could then be seen telling the reporter: "The hospital is telling me she's alive... They're calling me from the ICU."

He then broke down into tears...

via: Inside Edition

 And, between sobs, exclaimed: "I'm so happy!"

But, despite the happy news, many have been left wondering the same thing.

via: Inside Edition

 How exactly was Lance made to believe that his partner had died?

Well, he has now spoken out about his ordeal.

Speaking to TMZ, Lance explained that he went to the hospital on Sunday after getting a call from doctors saying that Tanya was "fading fast", and that it was going to end in her death. He recalled that, while sitting by her bedside, she "tried to grab him", but then closed her eyes and "faded".

In his devastation, he walked out of the hospital...

via: Getty

 And didn't speak to any medical staff on his way out. Maybe that explains it? But putting all the strangeness to one side, it is nothing short of a miracle that Tanya is alive, and we wish her a speedy recovery. For more incredible survival stories, keep scrolling...