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SOILWORK Drummer: DECAPITATED's VITEK 'Was A Great Inspiration To Me'

November 2, 2007

SOILWORK drummer Dirk Verbeuren has commented on the passing of DECAPITATED drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, who died in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old.

"I'm truly devastated about this untimely passing," Dirk said in a statement. "Vitek was without a doubt one of the most talented and hard-working extreme metal drummers around. He was a great inspiration to me, a mind-blowing force behind the kit. To die at such a young age and in such dramatic circumstances is just horrible. My deepest condolences to his wife and child, his family and friends, and to the band. Vitek will be sorely missed. R.I.P. Vitek."

Vitek and DECAPITATED singer Covan (real name: Adrian Kowanek) were hurt in an accident earlier in the week involving DECAPITATED's tour bus and a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border. Both musicians reportedly sustained serious head injuries in the collision, which is believed to have been the fault of the band's driver (although this has not yet been officially confirmed).

According to the Polish Internet portal Onet.pl, Vitek underwent trepanation, a form of surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the skull, and was due to be transported to a hospital in Krakow, Poland for further treatment.

Covan's family released a statement yesterday (Thursday, November 1) that the vocalist's condition had improved. At the time, the vocalist was still said to be at a hospital in Novozybkov, Russia, where he and Vitek were taken following the accident.

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