George Michael reportedly 'battled a secret heroin addiction'

It is being reported that George Michael allegedly suffered from a heroin addiction prior to his death.

The ‘Careless Whisper’ hitmaker passed away from heart failure at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, South East England, on Christmas Day aged just 53, and sources have now claimed the star “used heroin” and had been rushed to hospital earlier in the year for treatment after an overdose.

The source told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “He’s been rushed to A&E on several occasions. He used heroin. I think it’s amazing he’s lasted as long as he has.”

The news comes as PR chief Gary Farrow – a close friend of the ‘One More Try’ singer – told The Sun newspaper that “easy access to drugs” ultimately caused the death of the prolific talent.

He said: “I believe easy access to drugs was the cause of his problems. I thought George was too bright to get involved with illegal substances, but once this disease gets hold of you it’s hard to fight it.”

According to sources, cardiac arrest – which was the cause of death according to George’s manager Michael Lippman – is common amongst heroin users.

Meanwhile, the singer’s boyfriend Fadi Fawaz, who he had dated since 2011, has been left devastated by George’s death.

Speaking about how he was the one to find the star dead, he told The Daily Telegraph: “We were supposed to be going for Christmas lunch. 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.”

George’s publicist announced his death in a statement around 11pm on Christmas Day and a statement from Thames Valley Police read: “Thames Valley Police were called to a property in Goring-on-Thames shortly before 2pm Christmas Day. Sadly, a 53-year-old man was confirmed deceased at the scene. At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious…

“A post mortem will be undertaken in due course. There will be no further updates from Thames Valley Police until the post mortem has taken place.”

By his own admission, George didn’t lead the most perfect life. The former teen idol had many run-ins with the law and was caught in a lewd act in a toilet in Los Angeles and slapped with a driving ban in the UK after he crashed into a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, north London, later being charged with being unfit to drive.