Month: March 2017

With his official death certificate and cause of death officially released— more than two and a half months after his death, beloved pop singer George Michael will finally be laid to rest in a traditional Greek Orthodox burial that is believed to be officiated by “top Greek Orthodox clerics” in the United Kingdom.
The death certificate used his birth name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, but referred to the star being otherwise known as George Michael and the body was released to his sister, Panayiota Panayiotou, according to the public documents.

A source not authorized to speak publicly and asking to remain anonymous who works at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain said that “top Greek Orthodox clerics” at the Archdiocese, which oversees the British Isles parishes, were involved in burial plans and that the funeral could take place as early as this Sunday.

The British media have speculated that Michael could be laid to rest at Highgate Cemetery where his mother Lesley is buried, but the family has kept all details of date and location quiet.

Lesley Panayiotou’s grave at Highgate Cemetery

The singer’s official cause of death was recorded on the certificate as ‘dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and a fatty liver’, crushing speculation and tabloid reports that drugs were involved.

Death certificate naming the deceased as Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou

Following Michael’s passing, details emerged of his tremendous philanthropy, including his passionate support of a Greek charity that supports people with Thalassemia, an blood disorder that has affected many of his own friends and family who hail from Cyprus.

Even months after the singer’s death, the scene outside his home continues to be a pilgrimage site for beloved fans from throughout the world.

Outside George Michael’s house, where fans have come from throughout the world to pay tribute to the pop star.

Wham! singer was found dead in his country home on Christmas Day last year

53-year-old had suffered health scares and fought drug addictions for years

A coroner has now said he died from natural causes and there will be no inquest

Body has now been released to his family, who are planning a private funeral 

The details of George Michael’s funeral are to be kept under wraps after his family and friends decided to organise a private service. 

An announcement on Monday stated that the 53-year-old Wham! star died from a disease of the heart muscle and a fatty liver, meaning an inquest into his death is not needed.

The revelation means that, more than two months after his death, Michael’s body has finally been returned to his family ahead of a planned funeral.

The funeral had been delayed after an initial post-mortem examination was said to have been ‘inconclusive’. 

George Michael died of natural causes with a weakened heart and fatty liver, a coroner said

It also means it is unlikely a full toxicology report will ever be released.

Meanwhile a recorded message for Highgate Cemetery, where the singer’s mother is buried, states: ‘If you’re phoning about George Michael, I’m sorry we haven’t got any information for you.’  

On Monday the singer’s boyfriend Fadi Fawaz, who found him dead at his home in Goring-on-Thames on Christmas Day, took to Twitter shortly after the coroner’s statement, tweeting: ‘F*** YOU’ and ‘The Truth is out’.

On Monday the singer’s boyfriend Fadi Fawaz took to Twitter shortly after the coroner’s statement, tweeting: ‘F*** YOU’ and ‘The Truth is out’

Fawaz has come under fire from some fans since the singer’s death and his Twitter account was said have been hacked before comments were posted suggesting Michael had wanted to take his own life. The 999 call he made was also leaked.

Today former Spice Girl Geri Horner opened up about the loss of her close friend while on This Morning.

Former Spice Girl Geri Horner opened up about the loss of her close friend while on This Morning today (pictured)

She said: ‘I absolutely loved him…I’m going to cry. I’m all hormonal as well. But when I left the Spice Girls he took me under his wing. 

‘He was such a lovely person, so it was very shocking. And suddenly I have a baby, it was just like the circle of life… you just don’t expect it. He was such a good man.’

She added: ‘You know how real friends tell you how it is… they keep your feet on the ground. 

‘That’s what I really loved about him. He was quite normal. And so generous! He bought me a car, he helped me with first daughter, I lived with him, so I was gutted… it’s not until someone goes you suddenly go ‘Oh my God’… It’s very sad when someone we all love dies.’  

Darren Salter, senior coroner for Oxfordshire, said on Monday: ‘Inquiries into the death of George Michael have been concluded and the final post-mortem report received.

‘As there is a confirmed natural cause of death, being dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver, the investigation is being discontinued and there is no need for an inquest or any further enquiries.’  

Toxicology tests were also ordered to determine whether drugs contributed to his death, but Monday’s statement means only his family are likely to see the results. 

MEMORIAL CONCERT FOR SINGER SELLS OUT IN JUST DAYS

The tiny village hall in the village where George Michael was found dead is told hold a memorial concert on what would have been the pop icon’s 54th birthday.

Tickets for the event, called You Have Been Loved: Celebrating the Life and Music of George Michael, have already sold out.

The evening will feature music from a tribute band, who will perform Wham! and the signer’s greatest hits as well as performance from other bands and fans.

Singer David Wright who organised the even on June 25th said: ‘We’re big fans and wanted to do something to celebrate his life in a place that had significance for him.

‘We didn’t know how the village hall trustees would respond but they were keen on the idea and very welcoming.’ 

Profits from the £15 pounds tickets, which include a free glass of wine to members of the audience before the performance, will be donated to Childline.  

Michael’s cousin, Andros Georgiou, had said he suspected the singer died of an accidental drugs overdose and former lover Paul Stag claimed he had been hooked on a drug called Liquid G.

But Michael’s former partner Kenny Goss said he believed the pop superstar’s body ‘just gave up’.

Speaking earlier this month, he said: ‘I can’t say for sure but I think his body just gave up. All these years, it was just weak.’ 

Dilated cardiomyopathy, identified as a cause of Michael’s death, is a disease of the heart muscle which affects how blood is able to pump around the body.

In some cases, it is an inherited condition, otherwise, it is caused by things such as viral infections, uncontrolled high blood pressure and problems with the heart valves.

Myocarditis meanwhile is inflammation in or around the heart and is usually caused by a viral, bacterial or fungal infection. 

The third condition listed by the coroner, fatty liver disease, can be caused by a build-up of fat in the liver and is usually seen in people who are overweight or obese.

A different type of fatty liver disease is caused by excessive drinking and is known as alcoholic fatty liver disease.

It has taken 10 weeks for George Michael’s cause of death to emerge

George Michael died as a result of heart and liver disease, a coroner has confirmed.

The pop star was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver, according to Darren Salter, senior coroner for Oxfordshire.

The singer died aged 53 on Christmas Day at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Because there was a “natural cause of death”, the coroner said there was no need for an inquest.

Thames Valley Police originally said his death was unexplained but not suspicious and an initial post-mortem examination was “inconclusive”.

George Michael’s death came as a shock to his millions of fans

On Tuesday, the coroner said in a statement: “Inquiries into the death of George Michael have been concluded and the final post-mortem report received.

“As there is a confirmed natural cause of death, being dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver, the investigation is being discontinued and there is no need for an inquest or any further enquiries.

“No further updates will be provided and the family requests the media and public respect their privacy.”

The medical terms used on death certificates outline the cause of death, but not all the risk factors that have led up to it.

George Michael’s lists three conditions: dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and fatty liver.

This means his heart was enlarged, weakened and inflamed. The muscle wasn’t doing the job of pumping blood as well as it should have.

His liver was also abnormal, containing unhealthy collections of fat. There are many possible causes for this – heavy alcohol use is one.

At the weekend, the singer’s former partner Kenny Goss was quoted as saying: “I think his body just gave up. All these years, it was just weak.”

He told The Sunday Mirror: “We just want closure, we want the funeral to happen, it’s been a long time now.”

George Michael was at home in Goring-on-Thames when he died on Boxing Day

Fans also left tributes outside Michael’s London home after his death

Fadi Fawaz, the singer’s partner at the time of his death, told the Telegraph in late December he had found the star “lying peacefully in bed”.

After the cause of death was revealed on Tuesday, Fawaz responded to weeks of speculation by posting a photo of himself with Michael on Twitter along with the words: “The Truth is out…”

Following the coroner’s statement, Thames Valley Police said it had closed its investigation into Michael’s death.

“As the cause of death was natural, no further action is proposed or required,” it said.

Michael made his name with pop group Wham! in the 1980s and went on to enjoy huge success as a solo performer.