Michael Jackson pronounced dead

Pop legend Michael Jackson was this morning reported to have died of a heart attack after he was rushed to hospital in Los Angeles.
Jackson, 50, was said to have suffered a cardiac arrest and paramedics were unable to revive him.
A fire department official told the Los Angeles Times that Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30pm (local time).
Jackson was scheduled to perform in a series of comeback concerts in at the O2 arena London, beginning next month and continuing into 2010.
But there had also been worry and speculation that Jackson was not physically ready for such an arduous schedule.
concerts, and Mr. Jackson's postponement of the first of those shows from July 8 to July 12 fueled new rounds of gossip about his health.
Jackson has donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearance and behavior, generated significant controversy, damaging his public image.
Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer has experienced health concerns since the early 1990s and conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations
and several other charges.
One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records - including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" - 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career - more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era - and the sales of over 750 million albums worldwide. Cited as one of the world's most famous men, Jackson's highly publicized
personal life, coupled with his successful career, has made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades.
* Don't miss tomorrow's Bay of Plenty Times for an in-depth look at the superstar's life and the circumstances surrounding his death.