WHEN George Michael suddenly passed away aged just 53, it left fans around the world in shock.
The legendary Wham! frontman was beloved by millions, and his legacy lives on long after his untimely death.
How and when did George Michael die?
George Michael died on Christmas Day, 2016.
The singer was found dead in bed at his Oxfordshire home by his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz.
Speaking about the horrifying moment, celebrity hairstylist Fawaz said: “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.”
Read more on George Michael
In March 2017 Darren Salter, senior coroner for Oxfordshire, confirmed that George had died of natural causes after suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver.
George would have celebrated his 60th birthday in June 2023.
Days after what would have been a landmark birthday for the star, it was reported that his family were finally being allowed to erect a statue in his honour.
What was Fadi Fawaz’s 999 call after he found George Michael?
A 999 call from George’s boyfriend Fawaz was leaked just weeks after the singer’s death.
READ MORE IN CELEBRITY
In the call, it was revealed that Fawaz had discovered George’s body and spent nearly an hour trying to wake him before phoning for an ambulance.
In the heartbreaking call, Fawaz is heard explaining: “I’ve been trying to wake him up for the last hour but it was not possible.
“He’s gone. He’s blue. He’s gone.”
The handler then asks where George’s body is and Fawaz replies: “He’s in bed. Dead.
“He’s cold and he’s blue… yes, he’s very stiff.
“He’s dead… he’s dead.”
The operator on the call goes on to ask if George’s death was “expected”.
Fadi replies: “No, no, no, no, no, no, I’ve been waiting for him to wake him up for like, you know, for hours and he wouldn’t wake up, I went to wake him up and he was gone, you know, he’s not there.”
When was George Michael’s funeral?
George’s funeral did not take place until three months after his death as his family were forced to put funeral plans on hold while the coroner waited for the results of toxicology tests.
The service, eventually took place on March 29, 2017, and was held in the tiny, 30-seat chapel at Highgate West Cemetery.
Due to George’s popularity, there was tight security at the funeral, with black tarpaulin covering the cemetery’s iron gates.
No hearse was spotted entering the grounds and it’s thought that the singer’s body arrived inside a private ambulance.
Guests attended a wake at George’s house in Hampstead after the service, which is less than a mile from where he was buried.
Who inherited George Michael’s millions?
Michael left £97.6million to his sisters, his dad and a number of friends.
His will confirmed the bulk of his estate went to his older sisters Yioda and Melanie.
In a sad turn of events, Melanie died three years to the day after her famous brother did.
George’s dad, Kyriacos “Jack” Panayiotou, a Greek-Cypriot restaurateur who had emigrated from Cyprus to England, was left a horseracing stud farm where he has lived for many years.
Georgie’s mother, Lesley Angold, died in 1997.
Seven pals and relatives including Shirlie Kemp, who was a backing singer for Wham!, and record producer David Austin, were also beneficiaries.
Where is George Michael buried?
George is buried in Highgate Cemetery, North London,
The cemetery holds the graves of many notable people.
People are able to buy tickets for tours of the cemetery and pay respects to the late icon.
What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, that causes it to become stretched and thin.
It means you’re unable to pump blood around your body properly.
In some cases the condition is inherited, but it can also be triggered by viral infections, uncontrolled high blood pressure and excessive alcohol consumption.
Symptoms include:
