George Michael's long time manager has shared the star's cause of death.

The tragic news of George Michael’s death arrived this morning without explanation.

Only this via his publicist: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period.”

As friends, family and fans mourned the 53-year-old pop icon, one question hung over the tragedy. How?

Authorities are yet to confirm, but the former Wham! singer’s long-time manager, Michael Lippman, has told The Hollywood Reporter that he died of heart failure.

Lippman says he received a phone call on Christmas morning (GMT) to say Michael had been found “in bed, lying peacefully”, adding that there was “no foul play whatsoever”.

He described the death as unexpected.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 local time on Christmas Day where they found a 53-year-old man deceased.

As for the cause, British authorities have refused to comment until a post-mortem is carried out, stating only that they are treating Michael’s death as unexplained but not suspicious.