Prince died of fentanyl painkiller overdose

Prince's death shock the world - photo by AFP

Story by BBC

Singer-Songwriter-Musician-Producer Prince died from an accidental overdose of the painkiller fentanyl, medical examiners have found.

The report, from Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Minnesota, comes more than a month after Prince was found slumped in an elevator at his home.

Detectives have already questioned a doctor who saw the 57-year-old twice in the weeks before he died.

Prescription painkillers were in the singer's possession following his death, officials told US media in May.

A police warrant has also revealed that Dr Michael Schulenberg prescribed medication to the singer on April 20th, 2016 - the day before he died.

The warrant does not say what was prescribed or whether Prince took the drugs.

According to the autopsy report, Prince self-administered fentanyl, an opioid many times more powerful than heroin.

Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park Studios on the morning of 21 April, local officials said. First responders tried to revive him with CPR but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Artists from around the world and Prince's numerous fans later paid tributes to the star.

Prince was cremated in a private ceremony on April 24th, 2016. The singer's family are understood to be planning to stage a public memorial in August.

He was a prolific writer, musician, and performer from a young age, reportedly writing his first song when he was seven years old.


Prince performs in 2007 - (Getty images)

A singer, songwriter, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Prince recorded more than 30 albums. His best known hits include "1999", "Let's Go Crazy", "Purple Rain", "Diamonds and Pearls", "I Wanna Be Your Lover", and "When Doves Cry".

Read more:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/health/prince-death-opioid-overdose/
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/princes-cause-of-death-opioid-overdose-20160602
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/03/arts/music/prince-death-overdose-fentanyl.html?_r=0
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3c35f1efbd3a4ae1add3a3d787864475/apnewsbreak-official-says-prince-died-opioid-overdose