Michael Jackson dead at 50

Ralph Ueltzhoeffer

Michael Jackson has died, according to stunning reports from Los Angeles. The 50 year old suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles on Thursday and paramedics were called to the scene. Reports suggest the King of Pop was unconscious and not breathing. The medics had to perform CPR on the superstar as they rushed him to UCLA Medical Center. TMZ.com claims the Thriller singer has since died.

Update 18.07 EST: Jackson’s father Joe has confirmed the singer suffered a heart attack. More news to follow…

Update 18.26 EST: The LA Times is now confirming Jackson is dead. From The LA Times: Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources told The Times.

Update 19.33 EST: Jackson family friend, attorney Brian Oxman has called into CNN from the UCLA Medical Center. He’s refusing to confirm Jacko’s death but suggests all reports are true. He has been “hugging and crying” with Jackson’s siblings Randy, Jermaine and LaToya and awaiting father Joe Jackson, who is on his way from Las Vegas. Intriguingly Oxman suggests Jackson was on “extensive medication” at the time of his death and cold have been the victim of an Anna-Nicole Smith scenario. He tells CNN: “This family has been trying for months and months and months to take care of Michael Jackson. The people who have surrounded him have been enabling him. “If you think the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse, that is nothing compared to what has taken place in the life of Michael Jackson.” “I do not know what medications he was taking, but the reports that we have received within the family are that they were extensive. “I don’t know the cause of all this. But this is something that I feared. This is a case of abuse of medications, unless the cause is something else.”

Update 20.05 EST: The coroner at UCLA has confirmed the death. R.I.P Michael Jackson.

Wenn.com