Los Angeles, June 26
Pop icon Michael Jackson has died of cardiac arrest, according to
media reports.
Jackson, 50, suffered a cardiac arrest at his
Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him, an
entertainment website reported.
The website reported that the pop star suffered
cardiac arrest just after 12:00 pm (00.30 IST).
Los Angeles Times, quoting city and law
enforcement sources, confirmed his death.
Earlier, Jackson was taken to the Ronald Reagan
UCLA medical centre here by the fire department paramedics.
Fire Capt. Steve Ruda was quoted as saying by Los
Angeles Times that paramedics responded to a call by Jackson’s
home at 12.26 pm (local time). The paramedics performed
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and took him to the hospital, Ruda said.
Jackson is survived by three children—Michael
Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince
"Blanket" Michael Jackson II.
The ‘king of pop’ was born on August 29,
1958, and 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.
The singer was accused of child sexual abuse in
1993 but he could not be charged due to lack of evidence.
In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of
further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. — PTI