Pop star Michael Jackson has died in hospital in California.

The singer was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home and he was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

He was taken to the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Centre, after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest.

Jackson was due to perform 50 farewell concerts, bowing out on an illustrious music career spanning several decades which earned him a fortune.

He was pronounced dead at 2.26pm Los Angeles time (10.26pm UK time). He was 50-years-old.

Close friend Uri Geller told Sky News: "I'm absolutely devestated and shocked. He was a young man terribly fit and basically in good shape."

Matt Blank from the Michael Jackson World Network fan club told BBC News 24 he was "a bit dumbfounded and a bit shell-shocked by it all".

He added: "I find it hard to believe this could be a reality.

"In the past, health issues of Michael Jackson have always been rumoured. I can only imagine this is down to the amount of stress he was under to come out and perform."

He added: "It's just unimaginable that Michael Jackson is no more, it's just unbelievable."

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Brian Oxman, a Jackson family lawyer, told CNN he was told by brother Randy Jackson that star collapsed at his home in west Los Angeles this morning.

A cardiologist at UCLA told showbiz website TMZ.com that Jackson died of cardiac arrest.