George Michael was killed by heart and liver diseases
GEORGE Michael died from heart and liver disease, officials revealed yesterday.
A coroner said the troubled singer died of natural causes, which he specified as dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. All three conditions can be caused by excessive consumption of drink and drugs.
The coroner ruled that no inquest would take place into the 53-year- old’s death last year.
Following the announcement, Michael’s long term partner Fadi Fawaz, who had been the subject of speculation over the singer’s death, posted the message ‘F*** you’ on Twitter.
The hairstylist had raised eyebrows after revealing he slept in his car outside Michael’s mansion the night before his death, meaning he only found the star’s body the next day. After his initial tweet, he posted a black and white photograph of him being embraced by Michael with the caption ‘The truth is out’.
Michael was found by Fawaz, 43, at his £4million home in Goring- on-Thames, Oxfordshire, on Christmas Day.
The Wham! singer, whose £100million fortune has since become the focus of much speculation, was just 18 when the song Club Tropicana propelled him to global stardom.
But in later years he became more renowned for his battle with drugs than for his music.
Yesterday Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter gave no detail about the causes of Michael’s heart and liver problems, but both could be the result of his decadeslong problems with drugs and alcohol.
Michael’s fluctuating weight in recent years could also be responsible for his fatty liver disease. His former partner Kenny Goss has said he believed the star’s body ‘just gave up’.
An initial post-mortem examination following Michael’s death proved inconclusive, so further detailed reports were ordered – including toxicology tests to determine whether any drugs were in his system.
However, following the ten-week wait for the results, Mr Salter did not reveal whether any drugs were found in his body at the time of death.
The coroner said: ‘Inquiries into the death of George Michael have been concluded and the final post- mortem report received.
‘As there is a confirmed natural cause of death, being dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver, the investigation is being discontinued and there is no need for an inquest or any further inquiries. No further updates will be provided.’
Following the ruling, Fawaz said: ‘I feel wonderful. Yes, of course I am happy, that the truth is out and that no one is doubting. I am happy now he can rest, and we can rest as
‘Painful to feel I was doubted’
well. It was really painful to feel I was doubted. And I am sure George is happy, now that everything is out.’
In a career spanning almost four decades, Michael had a string of hits, selling more than 100million albums.
But in the years leading up to his death he was plagued by illhealth after years of cannabis and crack cocaine abuse, and had become a recluse.
Last year the star, also known for his heavy drinking, was photographed looking bloated and pallid in an Oxfordshire restaurant, and had apparently shunned being seen in public because of his appearance.
But in a final picture taken in December in a recording studio in North London, Michael appeared to have lost a considerable amount of weight.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that leaves it unable to pump blood around the body efficiently, while myocarditis is inflammation of the heart. It can be caused by infections, as well as alcohol and drugs.
Last night Joel Rose, chief executive of charity Cardiomyopathy UK, said: ‘It can be genetic, it can be caused by an infection and the third cause is toxins which can be down to excessive use of drugs and drink.
‘It’s the effect that the toxins in those drugs have on the heart. The toxins inflame the heart muscle and make it go baggy and that causes the dilation. The net result is that the heart is not doing its job which is to pump blood.’
It is unclear what type fatty liver disease Michael suffered from. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is usually seen in people who are overweight or obese. Meanwhile alcoholic fatty liver disease is caused by excessive drinking.