George Michael had been ‘battling secret heroin addiction’
George Michael was battling heroin when he died, according to reports.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the star had been a secret user of the drug until his death.
A source told the newspaper: “He’s been rushed to A&E on several occasions,” they said.
“He used heroin.
“I think it’s amazing he’s lasted as long as he has.”
The singer was reported to have died of heart failure on Christmas day.
Cardiac arrest – the cause of death according to his manager, Michael Lipman – is common among heroin users.
Heroin is a Class A drug in the UK, and is considered one of the most addictive substances to take.
Side effects of usage can include abscesses, infected heart valves, blood borne infections, constipation, as well as pneumonia, which the star had previously suffered from.
The star’s boyfriend of five years, Fadi Fawaz, revealed that he found the singer dead in his bed on Christmas day.
The two had been due to join a Christmas lunch that afternoon.
He paid tribute to his partner on Twitter.
ITs a xmas i will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning.. I will never stop missing you xx
— Fadi Fawaz (@fadifawaz) December 26, 2016
He told The Daily Telegraph: “I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone, lying peacefully in bed. We don’t know what happened yet.
“Everything had been very complicated recently, but George was looking forward to Christmas, and so was I.
“Now everything is ruined. I want people to remember him the way he was – he was a beautiful person.”
He also tweeted: “Its a xmas i will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning… I will never stop missing you xx.”
The star’s former partner, Kenny Goss, also paid tribute.
Mr Goss said: “He was a major part of my life and I loved him very, very much.
“He was an extremely kind and generous man.
“The beautiful memories and music he brought to the world will always be an important part of my life and those who also loved and admired him.”
It’s believe he died from heart failure on Christmas morning.
People have opened up about the star’s secret acts of kindness following his death.
Dame Esther Rantzen said Michael “gave millions” to Childline, of which she is the founder a president, but that he donated the money on the condition of anonymity while he was alive.
“For years now he has been the most extraordinarily generous philanthropist, giving money to Childline, but he was determined not to make his generosity public so no-one outside the charity knew how much he gave to the nation’s most vulnerable children,” said Dame Esther.
It was also revealed he gave to a TV quiz show contestant who had wanted to win £15,000 to pay for IVF.
When the contestant didn’t win the money, George Michael rang up the show and anonymously passed on the money so the woman could have the treatment.
