In the four-minute recording, released on Friday night by The Sun, Mr Fawaz is heard telling the female call handler that he found the singer “in bed, dead” and that he was “very stiff”.

When asked whether the singer is “beyond help”, Mr Fawaz replies and says he is “dead”. He then says: “I've been trying to wake him up for the last hour but it's not possible. He's gone. He's blue. He's cold.”

He is heard confirming Michael’s age - 53 - and address. The call-handler tells him to wait at the property and not speak to anyone while the authorities are called.

South Central Ambulance Service confirmed it had launched an immediate investigation following the release of a tape.