The self-styled King of Pop Michael Jackson has died after suffering Cardiac Arrest. It is believed to have been brought on, by an overdose of prescription drugs similar to morphine than had been given just shortly before his death!

His brother Jermaine Jackson said he believed the 50-year-old singer suffered a suspected cardiac arrest at his Holmby Hills home in Los Angeles and was taken to the UCLA medical centre where he was pronounced dead.

He said: 'My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday June 25 at 2.26pm.

'We believe he suffered a cardiac arrest at his home, however the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy are known. The personal physician who was with him at the time attempted to resuscitated him.'

A spokesman for the hospital added: 'When he arrived at hospital at approximately 1.14pm a team of doctors including emergency physicians and cardiologists attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, they were unsuccessful.'

TV footage showed a rescue helicopter flying the star's body to a waiting ambulance.

Tributes from the world of music, film and celebrity have flooded in.

Sir Paul McCartney said of Michael Jackson's death: 'It's so sad and shocking. I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael.

'He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones.'

Jackson's first wife Lisa Marie Presley said: 'This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me.'

Madonna said: 'The world has lost one of its greats but his music will live on forever.'

The head of the Sony Corporation Sir Howard Stringer said: 'Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era.'

And Justin Timberlake - who has been compared to a young Jackson - said: 'We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only pop music, but of all music.'

A Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said the robbery and homicide team was investigating Jackson's death because of its 'high profile'. But he added nothing should be read into his team's involvement.

A post-mortem examination is expected to take place later, Los Angeles Coroner's Office spokesman Fred Corral said.

Jackson was about to embark on a comeback tour - This Is It, including 50 dates in London, which aimed to resurrect his fortunes.

Jackson last toured 12 years ago when he played 82 shows in 58 cities around the world for the HIStory tour.

Lighting director Patrick Woodroffe, who had been working with Jackson in Los Angeles on rehearsals for his London shows, said that in the last few days the singer appeared to have recaptured his old form.

He said: 'He was frail, you might say, but something seemed to happen over the weekend and when he came into rehearsal on Tuesday something really extraordinary seemed to happen.

'He came on stage at 9 o'clock in the evening and we all looked at each other and there was something that said that he really had it. Last night particularly, he came on stage and he was electric.


I cannot believe this and so saddend! I am a huge fan. God Bless Michael! xxxx

Saturday 27 June 2009, 08:50am

Further tests needed after Michael Jackson autopsy


Tests are needed to find out precisely what killed Michael Jackson, but doctors say his body showed no obvious signs of foul play.

Speculation is now focusing on the 50-year-old's use of prescription drugs, amid reports he was injected with a narcotic painkiller shortly before collapsing.

Officials have confirmed the post mortem revealed no obvious signs of foul play but say further tests will be required, which could take several weeks.

'The cause of death has been deferred, which means that the medical examiner has ordered additional testing such as toxicology and other studies,' said Los Angeles County Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey.

'Those tests we anticipate will take an additional four to six weeks. There was no indication of any external trauma or indication of foul play to the body of Mr Jackson.'

Jackson was in full cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived at his rented $100,000-a-month mansion in Los Angeles on Thursday, with his personal physician trying desperately to revive him.

The pop superstar was rushed to the nearby UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead without regaining consciousness.

Police say they want to question Jackson's personal physician, identified in local media reports as Houston-based cardiologist Dr Conrad Murray.

Jackson's body will be released to family members after they choose a mortuary for funeral arrangements, Harvey said. There was no immediate word on when he would be laid to rest.

Celebrity website TMZ.com, which broke the news of the singer's death, has cited an interview with an unidentified 'close member' of the Jackson family, reporting the entertainer was injected with Demerol about half an hour before he went into cardiac arrest.

The website said the family believed Jackson's death was caused by an overdose of the drug, a narcotic painkiller.

Detectives have searched Jackson's home and impounded Murray's Mercedes from the driveway, believing it may contain evidence.

Meanwhile, authorities have released a recording of a 911 call to emergency services from the mansion at 12.21pm local time on Thursday, saying Jackson was unconscious and not breathing.

The unidentified caller said the physician was the only other person present and was frantically performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the unconscious Jackson - without results.

'He's pumping, he's pumping his chest but he's not responding to anything, sir, please,' the man said.



911 Call Script

The full transcript of the 911 call, released by the Los Angeles Fire Department:

Operator: What is the nature of your emergency?

Caller: Yes sir, I need an ambulance as soon as possible, sir.

Operator: OK sir, what's your address?

Caller: Los Angeles, California 90077

Operator: Is it Carolwood?

Caller: Carolwood Drive, yes.

Operator: OK sir, what's the phone number you're calling from?

Caller: Sir, we have a gentleman here that needs help and he's not breathing. He's not breathing and we're trying to pump him, but he's not ...

Operator: OK, OK. How old is he?

Caller: He's 50 years old, sir.

Operator: 50? Ok. He's unconscious? He's not breathing?

Caller: Yes he's not breathing sir.

Operator: Ok and he's not conscious either.

Caller: No, he's not conscious sir.

Operator: Alright, is he on the floor, where's he at right now?

Caller: He's on the bed, sir, he's on the bed.

Operator: OK let's get him on the floor.

Here we see The King Of Pop performing "They Don't Really Care About Us" in a rehearsal 48 hours before he passed away.

Showing he still had what it takes. A legend!

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Michael Jackson's daughter paid a tearful tribute to her father at his star-studded memorial service in LA.

Paris Michael Katherine, 11, said: 'Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine and I just wanted to say I love him so much.'

After the short statement, her aunt Janet Jackson embraced the youngster as tears rolled down her face.

Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder and Usher led the emotional public memorial for Jackson as the music world, the Jackson family and thousands of fans said farewell to the King of Pop.

Jackson's brothers, each wearing a single sequined glove in homage to his signature look, carried the singer's gold-trimmed casket into the Staples Center sports arena, where Jackson had rehearsed the day before his death for a highly-anticipated series of comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena.

Carey performed Jackson's 1970 ballad I'll Be There and singer Smokey Robinson read out tributes from former South African president Nelson Mandela and singer Diana Ross.

Praising Jackson for triumphing over tragedy in his life, Mandela said: 'Michael was a giant and a legend in the music industry and we mourn with the millions of fans worldwide.

'We also mourn with his friends and his family for the loss of our dear friend who we will miss and memories of him cherish for a very long time.'

The message from Ross said: 'Michael wanted me to be there for his children and I will be there if they ever need me - I hope today brings closure for all those who loved him. I send my love and condolences to the Jackson family.'

Around 18,000 fans, who won tickets in a web lottery, crowded into Staples for the two-hour ceremony honouring Jackson, who died aged 50 on June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest at his mansion in the city.

When it was Stevie Wonder's turn, he said: 'This is a moment I wished I had never seen come. Michael, I loved you and I told you that many times, so I'm at peace with that.'

He dedicated his songs Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer and They Won't Go When I Go to Jackson, and was rewarded with a standing ovation inside the auditorium.

In a lighter moment, US basketball star Magic Johnson revealed to the crowd that Jackson had a soft spot for Kentucky fried chicken.

RnB singer Usher identified Jackson as his greatest inspiration and was the first artist to touch his coffin. After breaking down in tears singing Gone Too Soon, he was embraced by members of the Jackson family as he was led away from the stage.

Police had estimated that more than 250,000 people would gather outside the arena but the orderly crowds were much smaller than expected.

Earlier, Jackson's good friend Dame Elizabeth Taylor dismissed the service as 'public whoopla'. The Oscar-winning actress wrote on Twitter: 'I said I wouldn't go to the Staples Centre and I certainly don't want to become a part of it. I love him too much.

'I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word.'

The memorial service comes as the courts untangle the future of Jackson's estate and police investigate the circumstances of his death.

Jackson leaves behind three children, Prince Michael, 12, Prince Michael II, 7, and Paris.