David Bowie has died at the age of 69 surrounded by his family following a "courageous" 18-month battle with cancer.

A statement was issued across the musician's official social media profiles, asking the public to respect the "family's privacy during their time of grief".

Bowie's followers initially rejected the statement as a hoax, perhaps out of shock and disbelief, but the sad news was confirmed by his publicist.

January 10 2016 - David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with... Posted by David Bowie on Sunday, January 10, 2016

There were rumours within the industry regarding Bowie's ill health, but his battle with cancer was largely kept private.

The statement on Facebook read: "January 10 2016 - David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.

"While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."

His publicist is expected to make a lengthier statement shortly.

The alter egos of David Bowie Show all 12 1 /12 The alter egos of David Bowie The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie Bowie on a break from his current project; playing the title role in a play based on the life of John Merrick, the hideously deformed ' Elephant Man' Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie Artist James Cochran's rendition of Bowie as Aladdin Sane, his 1973 album Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie Bowie as Halloween Jack Sunshine/Shutterstock The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie performing in his 'Angel of Death' costume at The Marquee Club in London Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie Davy Jones; life before David Bowie Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie performing his final concert as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon, London Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie getting ready to perform 'Earthling' at the Phoenix Music Festival in 1997 Pat Pope/Shutterstock The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie performing 'Space Oddity', referencing another alter ego, 'Major Tom' The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie as the Thin White Duke Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie's outfit for the Aladdin Sane tour designed by Kansai Yamamoto, photo by Masayoshi Sukita, Japan,1973 AFP via Getty The alter egos of David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie in the video for 'Blackstar', his latest and final album YouTube

Bowie's death comes just two days after he released his 25th and final album '★' (Blackstar).

He released a music video for the track 'Lazarus' taken from it last week, which sees him frail, wrapped in bandages and lying on a hospital bed.

"Look up here, I'm in heaven," he sings. "I've got scars, that can't be seen."

The video ends with Bowie shakily writing a note before walking into a dark armoire that stands beside the bed.

Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, paid tribute to his father on Twitter before retiring from the internet to grieve.

"He was a brilliant songwriter and an amazing creator, he gave us all a goal to run towards," said Midge Ure. "No-one could top him in terms of creativity."

Kanye West tweeted: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime."

Golden Globes host, Ricky Gervais, who brought Bowie on board for his sitcom Extras, wrote that he had "just lost a hero," while comedian Eddie Izzard said the artist would "live forever through his music".