Skeletal Jackson was bald

2009-06-29 16:00

Los Angeles - Michael Jackson was "severely emaciated" when he died.

The pop legend weighed just 51kg when he passed away last week after having a suspected cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home.

Leaked autopsy details reportedly show the singer was a "virtual skeleton", whose stomach was empty except for partially-dissolved prescription pills. It is understood he ate just one tiny meal a day.

His hips, thighs and shoulders were covered in needle marks, believed to be the result of narcotic painkillers the singer took three times a day.

There were also four injection sites near his heart - evidence of a failed bid to pump adrenaline directly into the organ in an attempt to restart it.

Surgery scars shocking

Medical examiners were also believed to be shocked by the surgery scars, which suggest Michael had at least 13 cosmetic procedures. The bridge of his nose had vanished and its right side had collapsed.

He was reportedly wearing a wig at the time of his death. Underneath it, he was almost bald, with only "peach fuzz" covering his scalp. He had several broken ribs and extensive bruising to his chest consistent with someone trying to revive him.

The singer also had unexplained bruises on his knees and the front of both shins and cuts and grazes on his back.

"Michael's family and fans will be horrified when they realise the appalling state he was in. He was skin and bone, his hair had fallen out and had been eating nothing but pills when he died," a source said.

"Injection marks all over his body and the disfigurement caused by years of plastic surgery show he'd been in terminal decline for years."

A second autopsy was carried out on Saturday after the Jackson family was dissatisfied by the first one, which ruled out "foul play", but could not determine a cause of death. Michael's funeral will reportedly be held on Wednesday.
 
His brother Tito said the family spent the weekend organising the send-off. They have yet to decide whether it will be a public or private funeral.