Michael Jackson dies from a heart attack at 50

Shock as King of Pop, Michael Jackson, dies at 50 from a heart attack

The world has been left in shock following the news that Michael Jackson has died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

The King of Pop died at his LA home after suffering a cardiac arrest, but the exact circumstances of his death are unknown.

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His personal doctor was with him when he collapsed but could not revive him.

Unconfirmed reports have claimed the fatal heart attack might have been triggered by a painkiller injection.

His family, including brothers Jermaine, Tito and Randy, and sister Janet and LaToya, and mother Katherine, raced to his bedside as soon as they heard there were problems.

Jermaine last night told reporters that he believed Michael had died from a cardiac arrest, but had no further details.

He also added that medical staff attempted to revive him, but failed. 'His personal physician, who was with him at the time, attempted to resuscitate my brother, as did the paramedics who transported him to the UCLA,' he said.

'On arrival at 1.14pm (local time) a team of doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for one hour but they were unsuccessful.'

Jackson, who has three children, was rushed to the hospital followed by ten bodyguards.

The legendary singer had been set to perform 50 London concerts this summer, starting on 13 July, and sources say he was struggling to prepare for it.

Family sources had claimed Michael had become more and more dependent on painkillers.

One said: 'He has pain in his back and that is the reason for the drugs, but it is obvious that the painkillers have taken over his life.'

Another added: 'He had been so frail, both physically and emotionally.

'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 the fans.'

But even his father had said: 'He's not doing well.'

Tributes from the music and entertainment world have already started flooding in.

His ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley said she was 'heartbroken' for his children, adding: 'I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible.

'Words fail me.'

The mother of his first two children, Prince Michael I, 12, and Paris Michael, 11, Debbie Row, is reportedly expected to gain custody. The identity of the mother of his youngest child, seven-year-old Prince Michael II, has never been revealed.

PR guru Max Clifford said: 'It is a terrible shock, you wonder if the strain of getting fit for this major tour proved too much. In recent pictures he looked anything but healthy.

'He was a great talent. He was already a superstar when he was in his teens but then he was with four others. Then all of a sudden he was on his own and he did seem to find it difficult to cope.'

Music producer Quincy Jones said: 'I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news,' adding that Jackson 'had it all - talent, grace, professionalism and dedication'.

Ashton Kutcher posted his condolences on Twitter: 'RIP. Sending love and light to family and friend but especially his kids.'

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Jackson had a tumultuous personal life with rumours of huge debts and near-bankruptcy plaguing him.

He also received negative press when he was cleared of child abuse allegations by a Californian court four years ago.

But he will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest artists of all time, and touched millions of people with a host of fabulous, ground-breaking songs like Billie Jean, Thriller and Bad, to name just a few.