EXCLUSIVE: Prince Looked 'Free and Happy' While Riding His Bike Just Days Before His Death -- See the Photo
In the final days leading up to his sudden death, Prince was spotted looking carefree while riding his bike, a local fan tells ET.
Heather Hofmeister, who lived near the legendary musician's Paisley Park residence, caught a glimpse of him on Monday, three days before Prince died at the age of 57, while on a nearby bike path in their small town of Chanhassen, Minnesota. She snapped this sweet photo to mark the moment:
"He looked so free and happy. The wind was blowing through his hair. He just looked like he [had] no care in the world and I just loved that," Hofmeister told ET.
For the past 14 years, Hofmeister has lived close to the late music icon's Paisley Park complex, and after feeling "so bummed" that she hadn't seen the legendary "Purple Rain" singer around town, she was grateful she finally had her chance.
However, it would be the last time, as Prince died just days later, leaving her -- and the rest of the world -- reeling from his untimely death.
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"I was just so shocked," she said. "Three days later -- I was like, 'No way.' It's just unbelievable. He was such a [steward] of the community."
According to Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson, the musician was last seen being dropped off at his Paisley Park residence around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, a day before he was found unresponsive in an elevator on the first floor. An autopsy was completed on Friday, though results have yet to be released.
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Since his death, there's been an outpouring of love and remembrance from around the world -- and a rainbow, which hovered over his Paisley Park residence just hours after he was pronounced dead.