Thaindian News

Entertainment legend Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles today, aged 50, after suffering a suspected heart attack.

Emergency officials in Los Angeles say they received a 911 call at 12.21pm today and rushed to the home of the King of Pop in the affluent Holmby Hills area of Bel Air.

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said when paramedics arrived at the entertainers house they were unable to detect a pulse and immediately began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the star and continued to do so until they arrived at the hospital.

The singer, songwriter, entertainer and businessman was rushed to UCLA Medical Centre where his sister La Toya was seen rushing in, sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.

Celebrity website TMZ said a cardiologist at UCLA told them Jackson died of cardiac arrest. He is reported to have said when Jackson arrived at the hospital staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.

A large crowd of fans and reporters has gathered at UCLA and police have sealed off surrounding streets with yellow tape to control crowds.

No official announcement has been made by UCLA yet but Jackson family members are reportedly on their way to the hospital.

Fans of the entertainer are being sent to Hollywood and Vine Streets where Jackson’s star on the walk of fame is located, one block south of Hollywood Boulevard

Jackson debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971. He was due to begin a series of comeback concerts with an appearance at London’s O2 arena on July 13.

He was one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.

In a career spanning almost 40 he won 13 Grammy Awards, had 13 number one singles in his solo career and achieved sales of over 750 million albums worldwide.

Los Angeles police have blockaded the streets surrounding the hospital with yellow tape.

Jackson is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.