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Huge crowds gather to mourn Michael Jackson
Friday, 26 June 2009
Media and spectators wait for a news conference about Michael Jackson's death at UCLA Medical Plaza June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The iconic pop star, 50, was rushed to the hospital after going into cardiac arrest, according to reports.
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The sensational, yet tragic life of Michael Jackson, the supremely-gifted pop singer who emerged from childhood stardom to become one of the most influential and infamous celebrities of modern times, was cut short late last night in the chaotic emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital. He was 50.
Doctors pronounced the King of Pop dead at around 4pm local time (12.00 GMT), after he suffered a massive cardiac arrest at his rented chateau-style home in the Holmby Hills area of the city, shortly after mid-day. He had been discovered in a coma when emergency services arrived at the scene. The death of the once-dazzling performer came weeks before he was due to attempt to re-launch his career with a series of 40 comeback concerts in London.
Jackson was reportedly taken ill as he prepared to leave home and drive to Burbank, where he was rehearsing the new show that was to mark his return to the stage for the first time in almost ten years. He was hoping to rehabilitate his reputation following a series of freakish scandals that had left him bankrupt, with his private life and reputation in tatters.
Exact circumstances of the incident were still unclear at time of going to print. However paramedics reported being called to a 7 bedroom, 13 bathroom house on Carolwood Drive, just off Sunset Boulevard, at 12.21pm Los Angeles time. The French-style property, boasted 12 fireplaces and a cinema, and was being rented by Jackson for $100,000 [£60,000] a month.
An ambulance arrived less than five minutes later and discovered the singer unconscious and in full cardiac arrest. Unconfirmed reports said he had been working out in the home's gym with Lou Ferigno, the actor who played the Incredible Hulk and had been helping him get in shape for the forthcoming concerts.
The ambulance was logged leaving the property at 12.32, and doctors performed CPR throughout the 2 mile, six minute journey to UCLA medical centre. However, they were unable to revive him and he never regained consciousness.
Large crowds were gathering outside the hospital last night, with many carrying flowers and banners, and some mourners wearing fancy dress costumes. The sudden news of Jackson's death shocked the world, crashed news websites, and prompted tens of millions of viewers to switch to rolling news channels. At one point, almost a dozen TV helicopters were hovering above the hospital.
Scores of policemen arrived at the scene, and mounted a chaotic effort to secure the building. Family members were on the scene from shortly after Jackson's admission. Joe Jackson, the star's father, told showbiz website TMZ.com, which broke the story, that he had been rushed to hospital that "he is not doing well."
The website later broke the news that the singer had died. TMZ added that his sister LaToya Jackson ran into the hospital sobbing. Also at the venue were Jackson's three children, who he has brought up alone: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, and Prince Michael Jackson II, who is known as "Blanket."
Jackson's death brings a tragic conclusion to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his commercial peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, and dazzled the world with the haunting reach of his possibilities.
In public, he was perhaps the most exciting artist of his generation, known for crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched. His single sequinned glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.
In terms of his earnings and fame, he ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. In fact, he united two of contemporary music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie.
Yet in private, he became an increasingly tortured soul, who perhaps never recovered from being denied a normal childhood. At the height of his fame, he lived at a bizarre Hearstian theme park called Neverland where he slept in oxygen tents, held hands with a chimpanzee called Bubbles, and (at a time when it didn't have dubious connotation) invited thousands of children to play.
As years went by, he became an increasingly freakish figure – a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grownup life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He surrounded himself with children, and became an object of tabloid infamy.
In 2005, he was tried and then cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him. Jackson's financial problems finally caught up with him in November, after four years on the road, living in luxury hotels in Bahrain, Ireland and Germany, mostly at other people's expense, when Neverland went into foreclosure. In a bid to clear his debts, creditors persuaded him to announce a series of 50 concerts at the O2 arena in London, which sold out in hours when tickets went on sale.
The shows were heralded as the first step in an unlikely career renaissance that would ultimately encompass a three-year world tour, a new album, movies, a Graceland-like museum, musical revues in Las Vegas and Macau, and even a "Thriller" casino. It would wipe out his massive debts, estimated at close to $60m, and allow him to retire in comfort.
However cynics always doubted Jackson was physically capable of a comeback, which was originally scheduled for July 8. Attention may now turn to whether it was responsible for the promoters to make Jackson carry out the tour. In May, Randy Phillips, the head of AEG who had promoted the concerts, denied tabloid reports that he was suffering from skin cancer. "He's as healthy as can be; no health problems whatsoever." However days later, AEG was forced to cancel the first four shows of the run, blaming "technical issues." The opening night was moved to July 13.
Quincy Jones, who helped arrange Thriller and produced Off the Wall album, told reporters: "I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
Independent
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87 Comments
hi am sending this to michaels jackson family i no its hard to say good by but he s not really gone he lives inside our hearts and his little kids to and hes always around in sprite like a angel whatching over every one he loves i no he is in heaven with god and jesus and he sings withh angels up there but remeber you will see him again in heaven in a new boby free of his pain and he is young again and you will be able to hold him again and say michael i love you i no how it fells to lose family i lose 3 brothers and 2 sisters to but i no safe free happy up there with jesus but as the way i seen michael in this world he was the most wonderful human i ever seen the kindness and love he showed fore hisfans the most i love a bout him was his heart how he help so many in need and his sweet voice when he sing there will never be a nother like him i pray for the whole family i see him on tv but never got to meet him but iam real sick so i no one day i will meet him in heaven
Posted by camill58 | 26.08.09, 17:08 GMT
Michael Jackson was an insparation to all of us and after his childhood was taken by his father he never wanted to let his kids have the same, all his life he tryed to avoid his kids being paped and Paris shouldent of been up on stage at his funeral. And I hope no one will judge those children because all they ever de was love that man like many of us did they didn't deserve to lose him
R.I.P Micheal Jackson my prayers are going out to the familly god bless you x
Posted by Jo | 09.07.09, 13:54 GMT
Michael Jackson was an insparation to all of us and after his childhood was taken by his father he never wanted to let his kids have the same, all his life he tryed to avoid his kids being paped and Paris shouldent of been up on stage at his funeral. And I hope no one will judge those children because all they ever de was love that man like many of us did they didn't deserve to lose him
R.I.P Micheal Jackson my prayers are going out to the familly god bless you x
Posted by Jo | 09.07.09, 13:54 GMT
There are not any words that could begin to express how heart wrenching this is for me. The sound of your name brings tears to my eyes and pain to my heart. The only way I can cope right now is to pretend this is a nightmare wanting to wake up. You have been my inspiration in all that I have done. Your music has taught me so much, you were my teacher. I am who I am today because of you. If I could trade places with you I would, you still had so much to give. I will always love you, and until we are all together in heaven, may you live forever.
My heart goes out to his family and his children. Many Blessings to you all, and may michael live on thru us all.
Posted by Tonya | 08.07.09, 22:42 GMT
I like so many was raised with Michael.He has been there since I can remember.I have always loved him dearly.He was such a loving man,his heart was so big.I guess i have seen every interview he has done....he actually cared what people thought,& was hurt by so many words such as (jacko) in his own words"THATS NOT NICE".I read what i could take of the comments,& I noticed the ? being asked"would you allow him to care for your child?"My answer, YES i would & i would know she was safe.RIP Michael
Posted by Anne | 08.07.09, 09:54 GMT
to the family of michael jackson i want to send my deepst sympathy and to his mother a special sympathy as i also lost a son but with the comfort of family and god we will continue on bless you all love
Posted by peggy | 08.07.09, 00:06 GMT
Michael Jackson was a outstanding young man and he will be missed by everyone. he has touched so many people old in young. the people in the world has lost a wonderful man. well he is not lost, he is now in heaven resting and now he will be walking around heaven all day. i love him and i will always remember him he was not just the kiing of pop. he was the king
Posted by michael | 07.07.09, 16:46 GMT
Omg it don't feel rite knowing michael is dead I will never forget that man ever it's heart breaking it really is ps does anyone know the address to the jacksons family home in los angeles xx plz cud u put it on ta x
Posted by Jaz | 30.06.09, 18:39 GMT
everyone loved michael, he was a great dancer and singer. he inspired people like chris brown, usher and omarion and to see him gone is a very bad tragedy. i loved michael very much growing up. when his song beat it went on the charts i was only sixteen. and im so sad!
Rest In Peace
Posted by shyra | 30.06.09, 18:28 GMT
Trace states,'..we all know and love Michael'. News to me!
Posted by robbo | 29.06.09, 14:21 GMT
Is anyone else fed up of hearing about Michael Jackson. Are there not other people in the world dying?
He was a good entertainer but Elvis was a much better singer.
Posted by Liam | 29.06.09, 13:57 GMT
Love Michael, will miss him greatly!!! However, don't turn this into a circus!!!! i.e. (Elvis, Marilyn or John Kennedy) Let him rest in peace!!!
Posted by C&C | 29.06.09, 02:01 GMT
Michael Jackson The King Of Pop, June 25th, will be in my memories forever! I still can't believe he is gone:0(.. His music and videos will live on in our hearts and the future. I hope and pray that his family will fine peace in their hearts.
Linda Rivera Williams Realtor /Tucson Arizona
Posted by Linda R Williams | 28.06.09, 17:55 GMT
God rest his soul in peace
Posted by Tania | 28.06.09, 09:26 GMT
"Maybe if they mentioned that this was Jackson the emergency team would have been more enthusiastic." Yeah because one life is worth so much more than another! The guy on the phone did all that he could, he established there was a doctor at the scene and confirmed that the doc was more qualified than him to make the call and that an ambulance was on its way.
Posted by Marsey | 28.06.09, 01:06 GMT
Is he going to be buried as a Muslim?
Posted by Q | 27.06.09, 18:59 GMT
Listening to the call as an ER nurse, the caller does not seem to be reacting as if this just happened. It sounds like this started a while beforehand. Chect pain, symptoms that meant he should have been transported much sooner. Pumping his chest, an MD was not bagging him , if this dr was with him all of the time, did he have CRASH type equip with him to be prepared for an emergency?
I just do not understand, it sounds like a slow code, they take their time getting it taken care of, no urgency!
Posted by Teisha | 27.06.09, 17:34 GMT
Never mind MJ, we also lost the great 60's garage & psychedelic rock legend Sky 'Sunlight' Saxon! Little known but sorely missed... RIP SKY.
Posted by napper | 27.06.09, 17:23 GMT
I think the funeral should be private, and should be a public memorial service that if the family decide they want it.
We all know and love Michael, but right now the family needs to come together and grieve privately.
Posted by Traci | 27.06.09, 16:19 GMT
I think the funeral should be private, and should be a public memorial service some time in the future.
We all know and love Michael, but right now the family needs to come together and grieve privately.
Posted by Number One Fan | 27.06.09, 16:05 GMT
87 Comments