Lakers voice Hearn suffers serious head injury

Hearn holds the record for most consecutive games broadcast at 3,338.

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The legendary "Voice of the L.A. Lakers", Chick Hearn, was in critical condition early Saturday after falling and seriously injuring his head at his L.A. area home.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was called to Hearn's home near Encino Hills shortly before 7 p.m. Friday (10 p.m. ET). A witness said Hearn, 85, fell from the ground level in the yard of his home, according to the LAFD.

Paramedics described his head injury as "serious" and Hearn had to undergo intracranial surgery at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Northridge.

Known for his colorful phrases as a long-time announcer for the Lakers basketball team, Hearn returned to the announcer's booth in April after a series of health problems.

He underwent heart-valve replacement surgery in December. Hearn also had to have surgery in February after breaking his hip when he fell while getting out of a car. According to the NBA, Hearn began broadcasting Lakers games in 1961 and holds the record for most consecutive games broadcast at 3,338 before his open-heart surgery in December.