Singer Michael Jackson died this evening after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
The singer stopped breathing and collapsed at his home in Los Angeles.
Paramedics failed to revive the 50 year-old and he was pronounced dead at hospital, according to medical sources in the city and family friends.
Cardiac arrest: Michael Jackson is believed to have suffered a heart attack this afternoon and has been taken to UCLA Medical Centre
He had reportedly been very frail in recent weeks as he struggled to prepare for a 50 concerts in London, which were due to start on July 13.
Police said that an emergency call was made from the house at 12.21pm local time [8.21pm uk] and paramedics raced to the scene.
Jackson, who has three young children, was seen being taken into an ambulance by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and moved to the UCLA Medical Centre, says celebrity website TMZ.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the star was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home.
Sell out shows: The singer is due to start a land-mark tour at the 02 in London next month
When emergency staff arrived they were forced to begin resuscitation procedure immediately.
Ten bodyguards followed the ambulance to hospital where the star was rushed into the emergency room on a stretcher.
Doctors again tried to revive him, but attempts failed.
A spokesman for UCLA said that due to patient confidentiality the medical centre could not comment on or confirm the reports.
His mother and brothers have raced from the family home nearby to be at his bedside.
His sister, La Toya, was seen running into the hospital sobbing.
A source close to his family said last night: ‘It’s so tragic but he was such a wreck physically that all the signs were there.’
He had apparently been ‘doped up to his eyes’ for several weeks with anti-pain prescriptions including Vicodin.
‘His back had completely given in and he was in so much pain,’ said the source.
‘His life was slipping away for so long. At least he is now at peace.’
The same family friend said that his ex-wife Debbie Rowe is expected to receive initial custody of the children while long term arrangements are sorted.
Another family source said he had become increasingly withdrawn over recent weeks, leaning on his mother Katherine for support as his health deteriorated.
‘He had been so frail, both physically and emotionally,’ the acquaintance said. ‘Many warned he was pushing too hard and overdoing things, but he wanted to get back to work so badly, he kept pushing himself harder and harder.
‘He didn’t want to let down his fans, and he desperately needed the cash.
google addsAs news broke of Jackson’s heart attack, a member of the Jackson family told TMZ that ‘Michael is in really bad shape’.
Waiting and hoping: Fans gather outside the UCLA Medical Centre hoping for news of the King of Pop
The website also spoke to Joe Jackson, Michael’s dad, who said “he is not doing well”.’
Close friend Uri Geller told Sky News he was hoping desperately that the reports were not true.
“I must hear it from a doctor. I cannot believe everything I see and read and hear at the moment. I hope its not true, I’m waiting like you are, like the whole planet is waiting to hear it from the mouth of the doctor taking car of him,” he said.
Jackson’s friend Mark Lester, the child star from the 1968 film Oliver! who is also godfather to the singer’s children said: ‘He was the most wondeful, lovely guy in the world. I can’t believe what’s happened.
‘I don’t know what to say. It’s just so horrible.’
Hundreds of fans have started to gather outside the hospital, hoping for news of the King of Pop.
The star had three children, the elder two, Prince Michael I, 12, and Paris Michael, 11, with ex-wife Debbie Rowe.
It has never been revealed who the mother is of the star’s youngest child, seven-year-old Prince Michael II. There had been persistent rumours about his failing health, most recently that he was suffering from skin cancer.
He was frequently pictured looking frail, and in recent years had often been photographed in a wheelchair or using a walking stick.
In May he spent three days in conference with doctors at the Bedford Medical building in Los Angeles.
His biographer claimed the troubled star was suffering from emphysema and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, which his doctors had trouble stopping.
Jackson subsequently denied these allegations but failed to shake off fears about his well being.
The troubled star, who has numerous cosmetic surgery procedures to alter his appearance, also battled an addiction to prescription drugs. He was diagnosed with the dermatologic disorder Vitiligo, which causes depigmentation in patches of skin, which he claimed to be the reason for white skin.
He also suffered Lupus – a tissue disease.
Earlier this year, the 50-year-old’s fans were left worried and disappointed after he cancelled the opening four shows of his sell out tour earlier this year.
Despite fears for his health and fitness his representatives had previously insisted he would be able to perform.
More than 750,000 tickets have been sold for the former King of Pop’s “This is It “concerts.
Jackson had needed to perform at the concerts, which would have earned him as much as £50m, to clear his debts.
Despite being one of the most successful recording artists of all time with hits such as Thriller, Bad and Billie Jean, he amassed massive debts.
source dailymail.co.uk
google adds
0 Responses to “The King of Pop is dead: Michael Jackson passes away – aged 50 – after being rushed to hospital in a coma”