How did a cup of coffee save Eric Clapton's life? What we know about the 1990 crash that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan 

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A cup of coffee saved Eric Clapton's life (image via Getty)

Eric Clapton was supposed to be on a helicopter 35 years ago on August 27, 1990, that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan. However, since Eric wanted to finish a cup of coffee, Vaughan took his seat instead and died in the crash.

On August 27, 1990, Eric Clapton was in East Troy, Wisconsin, where he played a gig with Stevie at the Alpine Valley Music Theater. According to RadarOnline, it was revealed that Eric's helicopter, which was supposed to carry members of his entourage, had an extra seat.

However, Stevie Ray Vaughan was in a hurry to travel to Chicago with his bandmates, and his agent Charles asked if he could take Eric's seat.

"Stevie said, "Do you mind if I take the seat? I really need to get back."

The insider then revealed,

"Eric waited to finish a cup of coffee and got on the next helicopter. That's what saved his life. It was the luck of the draw (Clapton) wasn't aboard that doomed chopper. It's fate."

Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed in the crash near East Troy, Wisconsin, at 35.


What has Eric Clapton said about Stevie Ray Vaughan's helicopter crash?

Eric Clapton, while talking about the fateful helicopter crash that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1990 with Far Out Magazine, recalled Vaughan's death:

"When I got back, I went straight to bed. And I was woken about seven in the morning by my manager, Roger Forrester, saying that the helicopter with Stevie Ray and our chaps hadn't come back. And then a bit later, someone discovered the wreckage. That was it."

Vaughan's helicopter crashed into the side of a nearby ski hill shortly after takeoff. The Civil Air Patrol was informed of the crash at 4:30 a.m., and authorities were asked to locate the accident scene.

All five passengers, including Stevie, were pronounced dead on arrival. As per autopsy reports, Vaughan suffered multiple internal injuries and died of exsanguination due to blunt trauma of the chest and abdomen. Vaughan was later buried at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas, Texas, on August 31, 1990, and in 1992, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Omniflight Helicopters.

Over 1,500 people attended the funeral services at the chapel, including Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and Nile Rodgers, with an additional 3,000 people gathered outside the chapel.

Edited by Yesha Srivastava