A renowned magician and member of ‘Siegfried and Roy’, Roy Horn has passed away at 75 after suffering complications from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus.

Siegfried Fischbacher, his German compatriot, broke the sad news in a statement.

According to him, Horn died on Friday at a Las Vegas hospital where he had been receiving treatment from the novel disease.

“Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend. From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried,” he said.

He went on to describe the deceased as a fighter who had survived several tumultuous moments until he finally breathed his last.

“Roy was a fighter his whole life including during these final days. I give my heartfelt appreciation to the team of doctors, nurses and staff at Mountain View Hospital [in Las Vegas] who worked heroically against this insidious virus,” he added.

Horn and Fischbacher gained global prominence after establishing ‘Siegfried and Roy’ and dazzled their fans with strings of magical displays. The duo are mostly known for using white lions and tigers during their shows.

The pair’s fortunes, however, suffered a set-back after Horn was brutally injured on stage by a white tiger called Mantecore in October 2003, damaging his spine in the process.

The incident had a negative impact on Horn’s career, struggling with stroke afterwards until the duo finally announced their retirement in 2010.

His death further stretches the list of celebrities who have died after contracting the killer virus which has continued to ravage countries across the globe.