In April 2016, the world lost a legend when Prince Rogers Nelson passed away at 57 due to an “accidental fentanyl overdose” in his Paisley Park estate. Behind the scenes, the iconic musician was battling a private ordeal, with mounting evidence pointing to a secret struggle with painkiller addiction in his final years.
To his adoring public and even those close to him, Prince seemed as dynamic and in command as ever, but the truth was far more complex.
Now his genius is being celebrated by the BBC as, on Saturday, 6, July, BBC will screen a number of programmes dedicated to the singer, including Prince & His Songs at the BBC, Prince: A Purple Reign and Prinace and the Revolution Live from a1985 show.
The timeline of his opioid use is murky, and it’s uncertain when he started or if his inner circle knew about his dependency, which reportedly included cocaine and Percocet use starting in the early 2000s. Friends and relatives have hinted that his drug habits might have been linked to a severe hip issue he suffered later in life.
Painkillers were to become the very thing that ended his life.
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Alarm bells rang when Prince’s private jet made an urgent landing in Illinois on 15 April, after a show in Atlanta, due to a suspected Percocet overdose, leading to his bodyguard rushing him off the plane for immediate medical intervention with anti-overdose treatment.
The first time the singer accidentally overdosed wasn’t his last, as he was found unresponsive in an elevator in his plush home in April 2016, reports the Daily Star.
After his sudden and premature death, it was confirmed that he died from an overdose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid reportedly 50 times stronger than heroin.
A confidential toxicology report reveals the amount of fentanyl in the singer’s system at the time of his death.
The autopsy was performed the day after Prince’s body was found
(Image: Getty Images)
The report shows that Prince’s blood had a fentanyl concentration of 67.8 micrograms per litre, while documented cases have shown blood levels ranging from three to 58 micrograms per litre.
The shocking figures also highlight the high levels of the drug found in the Purple Rain singer’s liver.
According to the data, 450 micrograms per kilogram were found in his vital organ, with liver concentrations over 69 micrograms per kilogram indicating overdose or fatal toxicity cases.
Although there is no definitive lethal dose of fentanyl, it was reported that Prince was taking various other types of painkillers and prescription drugs.
A year after his shocking death, authorities discovered numerous pills in different containers around the star’s home.
The autopsy was performed the day after Prince’s body was found, and the findings left his fans worldwide in shock.
When his tiny, fragile frame was examined after passing, it was reported Prince stood at merely 5’3″ inches tall. With a weight of only 112 pounds (eight stone), the star’s body bore many unexplained scars.
His hips and lower legs were covered in puzzling skin blemishes, possibly as a result of past surgeries for hip issues. Autopsy reports stated that there were “no obvious signs of trauma” on Prince’s body, ruling out death by suicide.
Post-mortem reports state that there were no obvious signs of trauma on Princes body and suicide was ruled out from the get go
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Despite maintaining an outwardly healthy lifestyle, friends were shocked to discover the megastar’s secret battle with drug addiction over the years. In his final days, it was reported that he was battling a severe flu and pneumonia, although health struggles weren’t unusual for him.
Back in 2009, a pal revealed: “He’s in a lot of pain. He’s popping painkillers and hoping it will all go away.”
Sadly, these very painkillers would turn out to be the cause of his untimely death seven years hence. His remains were handed over to his family on Friday 22 April, the day following his unfortunate discovery.
A discreet memorial service and cremation took place at Paisley Park on Saturday 23 April, attended solely by family members and close friends. One of them later spoke about the heartbreaking incident that had shaken the entire globe.
“He wanted to simply disappear with no fuss, no drama, no fanfare.”
Fans gathered outside Paisley Park and some were given purple boxes containing tour booklets and T-shirts, among other Prince memorabilia.
There was another memorial held at the Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles on May 11 2016 and the event was attended by Prince’s celebrity friends and admirers, including Spike Lee, Nile Rodgers, Janelle Monae, Gwen Stefani and Dita Von Teese.
The singer reportedly left no will, meaning his sister would inherit his £40 million fortune.
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