Inside Muhammad Ali's final hours

Muhammad Ali, the iconic three-time world heavyweight boxing champion who died Friday, had recently shunned the public spotlight he once seemed to revere.

His last known appearance was at a Parkinson's fundraiser April 9 in Phoenix, according to the Arizona Republic.

At the annual fundraising event for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, one of the most recognizable faces on the planet was shielded in part by dark sunglasses, according to a photo posted by the newspaper.  

On Monday, the charismatic former boxer became ill with what family spokesman Bob Gunnell described as a respiratory issue.

He was admitted to the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center in Scottsdale in fair condition that night.

"We expected that to be the case," Gunnell told reporters Saturday. "You know, Muhammad has battled back many times. We expected it to happen this time."

Ali also was hospitalized in January 2015 with a urinary tract infection. He was hospitalized in December 2014 with pneumonia.

"When he came into the hospital, we thought, 'OK, it will be a brief stay,'" said longtime friend John Ramsey, who works for WAVE in Louisville, Kentucky -- Ali's hometown -- and who has a radio show on ESPN.

Ali's daughter, Hana, wrote in a tweet that Ali was surrounded by his children in his final moments. They held his once powerful hands. They hugged and kissed their 74-year-old father. They chanted Islamic prayer.

Hanna Ali wrote that the children tried to stay strong. Some whispered in his ear.

"You can go now. We will be okay. We love you. Thank you. You can go back to God now."

After Ali's organs failed, his daughter wrote in the tweet, his heart continued to beat for another 30 minutes: "A true testament to the strength of his Spirit and Will!"