Former Prince collaborator Alexander O’Neal and his wife Cynthia O’Neal were rushed to the hospital on Friday morning following a fire at their Minnesota apartment.
It seems the origin of the blaze could be attributed to the 72-year-old singer-songwriter’s oxygen tube, according to an account from Cynthia.
Alexander’s wife told TMZ she noticed ‘a bubble of fire’ in the cord of the oxygen machine after he woke her up in the middle of the night to alert her of the emergency.
Alexander O’Neal, who was hired by Prince in the early 80s, had recently been released from the ICU after a nearly two-week stay for bacterial pneumonia and an enlarged heart.
There was also a separate fire on the floor, which Alexander O’Neal tried stomping out, burning his bare foot in the process.
The flames spread to the mattress, prompting the couple to evacuate their home and dial 911.
Per Cynthia’s account, the longtime couple could only manage to walk a few steps at a time due to the musician’s ailments.
They inhaled a significant amount of smoke throughout the ordeal and were both hospitalized, though Cynthia was quickly released.
The R&B singer, however, remained in medical care to undergo testing on his lungs.
Cynthia said she returned to their home in Burnsville, where she found Alexander’s medications melted and the entire place damaged.
‘The whole place is totally demolished. There was nothing left. There was water up to my ankles,’ she told TMZ.
The outlet also reported that the fire ruined four units in total, and is under investigation.
Alexander was discharged from the hospital later on Friday, and the couple is staying with a family member.
‘We are so happy to be alive. We may not have a toothbrush, but we have a car! Our spirits remain good and we are moving forward,’ Cynthia shared.
The husband and wife married in June 2024 but have been together for decades.
In late October the Mississippi-born performer wished his love a happy birthday on Instagram, writing, ‘Happy Birthday to Cynthia – my amazing wife, friend and manager ..Much love, Alex xx.’
Alexander began his music career with R&B group Flyte Tyme, who then became Prince’s backing band, before embarking on a solo career.
He was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2015, but exited the show early due to a heated clash with Perez Hilton.
Before leaving, he told housemates, ‘No man taunts me ever. You don’t play with me.’
‘I have had a great experience with you guys and I have mad love for almost all of you. I want you guys to not be sad that I’m leaving and to not let my departure interrupt your experience.’