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Paul Karason, the man whose skin permanently turned blue 15 years ago, died after suffering a heart attack.

62-year-old Paul Karason found Internet fame when his skin permanently turned blue as a side effect of using a sliver compound. He was admitted to the hospital in Washington last week. He later contracted pneumonia and had a severe stroke, reported Daily Mail.

Paul Karason was born as a fair skinned and freckled boy. His skin began turning blue 15 years ago when he contracted a rare medical syndrome known as argyria. Argyria is a form of silver poisoning which can happen through dietary supplements.

Paul Karason was nick named by a few people as “Papa Smurf” after his skin turned blue. Also his long beard and white mane added to the resemblance of his nick name.

“That was a nickname he didn’t appreciate, depending on who said it,” she said. “If it was a kid who ran up to him saying ‘Papa Smurf,’ it would put a smile on his face. But if it was an adult, well ….” said Jo Anna Karason, wife of Paul Karason.

For the first time, in 2008, Paul Karason came out of the solitude only to explain his condition on the TODAY show.

“He has been too ill to work for a while,” his wife said. “He didn’t like to go out in public much – only when he thought he needed to, like to go to the bank or to pick up tobacco.”