Heavy Dose of Morphine

Michael Jackson took a "heavy dose of morphine" before his death, according to members of his family, who had expressed concerns about the singer's use of painkilling drugs. Police have launched an investigation and sealed off Jackson's house as a crime scene. Two cars have been towed away for forensic examination.

Jackson's dependence on prescription medication had become so severe that his father, Joe, wanted him admitted to rehab, showbusiness website TMZ reported, citing unnamed family members.

At recent rehersals to prepare for his series of 50 concerts at London's O2 Area, Jackson was said to be "listless" and lethargic. He last performed on Wednesday night, 12 hours before the emergency services were called to his Los Angeles home. Following that performance he reportedly took a painkilling injection of Demerol, a commercial name for the morphine-based drug pethidine.

Pethidine is known to have dangerous side effects including cardiac arrest if used wrongly. Police found a supply of the drug and syringes at Jackson's previous home, the Neverland Ranch near Santa Barbara, California, five years ago as part of their investigation into child abuse.

The 50-year-old star, who wrote a song called Morphine in the late 1990s, is thought to have become hooked on painkillers after suffering burns to his face while filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984. Toxicology tests will be carried out on his body and an autopsy is likely to be undertaken today. His body was flown to the coroner's office by helicopter.

His recent bid to prepare for his comback, including rehersals lasting up to 10 hours, had left him weak and gaunt, according to members of his crew. "He was frail, you might say," said Patrick Woodroffe, a lighting director. However he added that the singer seemed to have enjoyed a burst of energy in what would prove to be his final performance ever. "He came on stage and he was electric. It was like he had been holding back and suddenly he was performing as one had remembered him in the past."

Paramedics were called to the Los Angeles home rented by Jackson just after noon on Thursday. He was rushed to UCLA Medical Centre where doctors battled in vain for an hour to save his life. He was pronounced dead at 2.26pm, with family members at his bedside. Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and kidnap.

He repeatedly denied undergoing cosmetic surgery, despite very visible changes to his face and skin tone, and was criticised for forcing his children to wear veils whenever they were in public.