Melanie Panayiotou, the younger sister of George Michael, has died on Christmas Day, at the age of 55, exactly three years after her brother.
Her death has been confirmed by her
family in a statement. It reads that Melanie “passed away suddenly”
over Christmas.
George Michael died on Christmas Day
of 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. He was 53.
Andrew Ridgeley, George’s former
Wham! band mate, described Melanie’s death as “utterly tragic” and
said his thoughts were with her family.
Melanie Panayiotou and George
Michael are survived by their father Kyriacos, known as Jack, and their oldest
sister Yioda, 57. Their mother, Lesley, died in 1997.
In a statement, released through lawyer
John Reid, the Panayiotou family said:
“We would simply ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this very
sad time.
“There will be no further comment.”
London Police also confirmed the death in a statement, which read: “Police were called by London
Ambulance Service at approximately 1935hrs on Wednesday, 25 December to reports
of the sudden death of a woman, aged in her 50s.
“The death is not being treated
as suspicious by police.”
In the last month’s edition of The Big Issue, Melanie Panayiotou spoke
about her hopes for the recently-released romantic comedy Last Christmas, which was inspired by George Michael’s music.
She said: “My family and I hope you all enjoy the film, and Yog’s [George’s]
music old and new, woven beautifully into this fun, easy tale of love and self-love.
“As many of you know, Yog adored Christmas and he loved the idea of this film. I am sure he will be enjoying seeing Emilia [Clark]’s amazing light bulb smile, something they share, across the celestial miles!”
A senior coroner for Oxfordshire has confirmed that George Michael died of natural causes.
George Michael, who died on Christmas Day at the age of 53, suffered a dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver, according to Darren Salter, senior coroner for Oxfordshire.
The singer died at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Image source Wikimedia
Thames Valley Police originally said George Michael’s death was unexplained but not suspicious and an initial post-mortem examination was “inconclusive”.
In a statement, the coroner said: “Inquires 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.”
Dilated cardiomyopathya is a disease that causes the heart muscle to become stretched and thin and unable to pump blood around the body efficiently.
Myocarditis refers to inflammation of the heart muscle.
The cause of death of George Michael is still unclear as a post-mortem examination was “inconclusive”, British police have said.
George Michael died at the age of 53 on Christmas Day at his home in London.
More tests will now be carried out to determine what led to the superstar’s death, Thames Valley Police said in a statement. The results of these tests are unlikely to be known for several weeks.
George Michael’s death is still being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.
The post-mortem examination took place on December 29.
Image source Wikimedia
The ambulance was called to George Michael’s property at 13:42 GMT on Christmas Day and the singer was confirmed dead at the scene. Thames Valley Police also attended.
George Michael’s partner Fadi Fawaz said he had found the singer lying “peacefully in bed”.
Fadi Fawaz told The Daily Telegraph: “I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone. We don’t know what happened yet.”
George Michael’s manager, Michael Lippman, said the singer had died of heart failure.
Fans have been lighting candles and leaving handwritten cards outside his home in Highgate, north London.
George Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100 million albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.
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