Pop legend Michael Jackson has died after suffering a heart attack at his Los Angeles home, sending shockwaves through the entertainment world.
The Thriller star was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in a deep coma on Thursday afternoon by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics.
The Los Angeles Times cited multiple city and law enforcement officials as confirming the pop icon's death.
LATEST NEWS: Coroner confirms Michael Jackson's death Are you a Michael Jackson fan? Click here to pay tribute
VIDEO: Michael Jackson, dead at 50 SLIDESHOW: Michael Jackson, the king of popThe 50-year-old reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest early in the afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him.
Earlier, a fire department official Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times Jackson was not breathing when paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12.30pm.
AUDIO: Listen to an interview with Ch 7 reporter Mike Amor in LA
The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the paper.
National and local television networks showed hundreds of media gathered at UCLA Medical Centre for what appeared to be a briefing.
An unidentified family member earlier told TMZ - the first outlet to report that Jackson had suffered a cardiac arrest - that the star was in "really bad shape."
Michael's father Joe Jackson told E! Online he was aware of the emergency but did not know further details.
"I am in Las Vegas, but yes, people in Los Angeles called me and are with Michael and tell me he was taken to the hospital,'' he said.
"I am not sure what's wrong. I am waiting to hear back from them.''
The LA Times said paramedics were called to a Bel Air home off Sunset Boulevard that Jackson had been renting for $100,000 a month.
It was described as a French chateau estate built in 2002 with seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and a theatre.
The OK! website reported that streets surrounding the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in LA had been blocked off with yellow tape.
More to come
Email a friend