TRAGIC Amy Winehouse was found dead yesterday aged just 27. Her death followed a binge on ecstasy and booze, friends have claimed.
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The troubled singer, who spent years battling heroin and drink addictions, is believed to have been found slumped at home by her bodyguard.
But she was already “beyond help” by the time ambulance crews and police arrived. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
At 8.45pm a private ambulance arrived at the house and five minutes later Amy was brought out in a body bag.
Police today confirmed that a post-mortem examination of the 27-year-old's body will not be scheduled before tomorrow.
"Her passing was so sudden it still hasn't hit me," said mother Janis, who will now always remember how Amy said, 'I love you mum' at the end of an enjoyable day together.
“They are the words I will always treasure,” said Janis. “I’m glad I saw her when I did.”
On hearing the news, Amy’s distraught father Mitch Winehouse wept: “This isn’t real. I’m completely devastated.
Speaking from New York, the taxi driver and part-time singer said: “I’m getting the next plane back. I’m coming home. I have to be with Amy.
“I can’t crack up for her sake. My family need me. I’m devastated, it’s such a shock.”
Last night a neighbour told how he heard noises from Amy’s home on Saturday afternoon.
“At about 3.30am I heard crying from next door... terrible crying like somebody mourning.The ambulances and police cars arrived shortly after that.”
Police described Amy’s death as “unexplained”. But friends who have seen her over the last few weeks say she had hit the self-destruct button over the last two days in wild drinking sessions around Camden, North London.
A friend said: “She has spent the last seven days on a massive bender and people were saying she’s going to drink herself to death.”
Sources claim she died from a “bad” ecstasy pill combined with huge amounts of alcohol and the fact she suffered from emphysema.
There were tributes last night from some of music’s biggest names. Sir Elton John said: “She was one of the most seminal artists this country has ever produced.”
Lady Gaga wrote on twitter: “RIP to the amazing #amywinehouse. Such a talented singer.” Mark Ronson, who produced her multi-million selling Back To Back album, said: “She was my musical soulmate and likea sister to me. This is one of the saddest days of my life.”
Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, who was with Amy earlier in the week, said: “It’s a very sad loss of a very good friend.” Kate Moss said on twitter: “RIP Amy Winehouse, So upset, my heart goes out to her, sad to see such talent vanish from the world.” Lily Allen said: “Its just beyond sad, there’s nothing else to say. She was such a lost soul, may she rest in peace.”
Rihanna said on Twitter: “Dear God have mercy!!! I am SICK about this right now! Dear Amy.”
Ex Premier Gordon’s wife Sarah Brown said on Twitter: “Sad, sad news of Amy Winehouse – great talent, extraordinary voice, and tragic death.”
US singer LeAnn Rimes wrote: “RIP Amy Winehouse. So sad to see such a talent gone.”
Chris Goodman, a spokesman for Amy’s management, said: “We are all shocked and devastated.”
The star made her last public appearance on Wednesday with goddaughter Dione Broomfield at the iTunes festival at Camden Roundhouse. And we can reveal how on the night before she died Amy spent an hour on the phone to best friend Kelly Osbourne, who said: “I was speaking to her last night, she seemed absolutely fine, I don’t understand how this could have happened.”
However another friend said: “There was always a danger of something like this. Her drinking is totally out of control. She’s constantly out of control on vodka. She’d drink bottle after bottle and mixing those quantities with drugs is lethal.”
Just two days ago neighbours said they saw her arrive in a cab with Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace. She collapsed when she got out of the taxi and had to be carried inside.
Soon after her death, police cordoned off the area, aiming to question everyone who had been in and out in the last few days. Around 150 fans gathered and Amy’s distraught boyfriend Reg Traviss also arrived.
Amy’s bodyguard Ray Grange was being questioned as a witness. He is believed to have found the body and raised the alarm.
In May she had admitted herself to The Priory clinic in South West London and was pictured swigging a bottle of vodka. Just weeks later her European tour was cancelled after a shambolic performance in Belgrade when she was booed offstage.
Only hours before her body was discovered her management team released a statement calling off the tour indefinitely and saying Amy was “withdrawing from all scheduled performances”.
Last night it was revealed that in line with Jewish tradition, Amy’s funeral could be held today if police are satisfied with the results of their post-mortem examination.
Amy’s death puts her in the infamous “27 Club” of drink- and drug-troubled rock stars who all died at the same age. She joins Kurt Cobain, Brian Jones, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.