Matt Pinfield Has Survived a Coma: ‘I’m Alive’

Months after suffering a stroke and a coma, Matt Pinfield reports that he’s on the road to recovery. “Guys, I’m alive,” the radio host and former VJ told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m recovering and am going to come back swinging. I was unresponsive for two months. Friends were thinking they were coming to see me for the last time. The doctors never expected me to speak or to walk again.” The music industry institution hopes to move to outpatient care later this month.

Pinfield credited his daughter, Jessica, with saving his life since she took control of his medical and financial decisions while he was intensive care. “She protected me,” he said.

The former 120 Minutes host, who is 63, had a stroke on Jan. 6. In court documents, Jessica and her sister Maya expressed concerns over Pinfield’s girlfriend, whom they alleged wanted control of his assets and home. This led to Jessica seeking temporary conservatorship. He was able to move out of ICU last month.

Pinfield told The Hollywood Reporter that he was battling pneumonia and on a ventilator while fighting for his life. Nevertheless, when he started feeling better, his musical interests returned quickly. “My friends said I went on about ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ and how they couldn’t keep up with what I was saying,” he said. “They were, like, ‘Yeah, he’s still got that brain.’”

Several musicians, including Shirley Manson and Butch Walker, and Pinfield’s peers in the broadcasting community, such as podcast host Allison Hagendorf, supported him during his recovery. “I want to say how great grateful I am for all the people that that were wishing me well,” Pinfield told The Hollywood Reporter. “The love of the community helped me get through this.”

Pinfield added he hopes to return to his radio shows as soon as he recovers.