King of Pop Michael Jackson passes away

Los Angeles: Pop legend Michael Jackson was pronounced dead after efforts to revive him from a state of deep coma failed. Jackson was staying at his Holmby Hills mansion in Los Angeles.

He was 50.

According to paramedics, who responded to a 911 call, Jackson was not breathing when they arrived at his mansion. His private doctor was already performing CPR on him when they arrived. Paramedics struggled for a further 45 minutes with CPR before removing him to the UCLA Medical Center.

As a matter of practise, law enforcement agencies have opened an investigation into the death, though they stress there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Such investigations are routinely instituted with high profile cases, like that of Michael Jackson. Some light on the circumstances of his death will emerge once the coroner's office issues a report.

According to reports, paramedics entered the house located off Sunset Boulevard at about 1 pm. and the singer was pronounced dead at 2:30 pm.

According to Jermaine Jackson, medical personnel made a heroic effort to revive his brother. "His personal physician, who was with him [at the house] at the time, attempted to resuscitate my brother, as did paramedics," he said. "A team of highly skilled doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, but were unsuccessful."