Tragic Amy Winehouse 'heartbroken' over split from Reg Traviss as she dies aged 27

By LARA GOULD and SARAH BULL

Last updated at 11:32 PM on 23rd July 2011

• Troubled singer had a long battle with drink and drugs
• Devastated after split from director Traviss last month
• Father Mitch flies home from New York 'to be with Amy'
  
• Autopsy could take place 'within next 24 hours'
  

Troubled singer Amy Winehouse died yesterday of a suspected drug overdose at her London home.

The 27-year-old star, who had fought a long and well-publicised battle with drink and drug addiction, was pronounced dead after police were called to her £2.5 million three-storey home in North London.

Her untimely death follows a long list of musicians who have all died at the age of 27, known as the 27 Club. They include rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Rolling Stone Brian Jones.

Amy was said to be devastated and ‘inconsolable’ after being dumped by her on-off boyfriend Reg Traviss, 34, just before she checked herself into The Priory rehabilitation clinic last month.

Traviss, who had previously turned down a marriage proposal from the star, was desperate to help Amy turn her life around, say friends, but when he realised she could not beat her demons he ended the relationship.

Last night Amy’s father Mitch - who had predicted she would die if she failed to quit drink and drugs - said he was devastated but has vowed ‘not to crack up for Amy’s sake’.

The cabbie-turned-singer was on a jazz tour in New York when he heard the news. He said: ‘I’m coming home. I have to be with Amy. I can’t crack up for her sake. My family need me.’

Amy had recently completed her third album but the release date was delayed by Island Records when she went into rehab. 

She bought her five-bedroom Camden home in 2009 but only moved in this May after spending £200,000 installing a recording studio and gym.

As the investigation to establish the cause of her death began, three people were seen outside the house, which is in one of London’s most expensive streets. They were  Mr Traviss, her bodyguard – known only as Neville – and former Big Brother contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, 32, a long time friend of the singer, who looked distraught.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Inquiries continue into the circumstances of the death, which at this stage is being treated as unexplained. We do have people we’re speaking to but nobody has been arrested.’

A source said: ‘A number of people were helping police with their inquiries but we are still trying to establish who was with her when she died. It’s fair to say these people are central to police enquiries in piecing together what happened before she died.’

Another police source said that the death was being treated as ‘drink and drugs-related’. A post-mortem is expected to be carried out tomorrow.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in a press conference yesterday evening that no cause of death had yet been confirmed.

He said: 'I am aware of reports of a suspected drugs overdose, but I would like to re-emphasise that no post-mortem has yet taken place and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death.

'The death of any person is a sad time of friends and family especially for someone known nationally and internationally like Amy Winehouse. My sympathy extends not only to her family but also to her millions of fans across the world.'

A statement from Winehouse's U.S. record label read: 'We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. 

'Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time.'

And a spokesman for the late singer said: 'Everyone involved with Amy is shocked and devastated. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. The family will issue a statement when ready.'

A section of the road where the singer lived remained cordoned off last night. Journalists, local residents and fans gathered at the police tapes, while forensic officers were seen going in and out of the building.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she saw the grief-stricken Traviss, on the ground outside the house.

Amy became a household name in 2006 after the multi-million sales of her five-time Grammy Award-winning album Back To Black, which chronicled her troubled love affair with her former husband Blake Fielder-Civil. 

The pair married in Miami in May 2007 but divorced two years later after they both battled drink and drug addictions.

It is also alleged former music video producer Fielder-Civil was the one who introduced the Back to Black star to heroin and crack cocaine.

Amy's father Mitch previously spoke out about how his daughter stayed away from drugs prior to meeting her ex-husband.

In an interview last year he said: 'He's not entirely responsible, she's got to take a portion of the responsibility, but it's clear, it really kicked off when they got together.'

Despite her personal problems the star amassed a £10 million fortune and her album, with hits including Rehab, also helped her find success in America. But she struggled to deal with her success.

On Thursday, she made a surprise return to performing at the Roundhouse in Camden, North London, supporting her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield in an iTunes Festival concert. But fan Simon Grabiner, 19, said she came on stage and ‘stumbled around’ as if she was drunk or under the influence of drugs.

Mr Grabiner, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, said: ‘Everyone cheered as they saw her come on, and everyone thought she was going to perform. But she just walked around the stage as if she was drunk or something.

‘Her legs seemed to turn to jelly. She gave Dionne a hug, and told everyone to buy her album. Then she just walked off.’  

It followed a shambolic performance in Belgrade, Serbia, last month where Amy was booed off stage which led to the cancellation of her European tour. 

Yesterday morning a message on her official website said she would be withdrawing from all forthcoming performances.

It read: ‘Amy Winehouse is withdrawing from all scheduled performances. Everyone involved wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen.’

Last night Sir Elton John called her ‘a seminal artist’, adding: ‘She was one of the greatest artists this country has ever produced.’

Mail on Sunday columnist and CNN presenter Piers Morgan wrote on Twitter: ‘Such desperately sad news. Supreme natural talent, terrible self-destructive addictive personality.’  

Lily Allen tweeted: ‘It’s just beyond sad, there’s nothing else to say. She was such a lost soul, may she rest in peace.’

Singer and actress Kelly Osbourne wrote: ‘I can’t even breath right now I’m crying so hard I just lost one of my best friends. I love you for ever Amy and will never forget the real you!’

TV presenter Peaches Geldof, the television presenter simply wrote ‘RIP Amy Winehouse’. Emma Bunton said: ‘Such sad news about Amy Winehouse. My thoughts are with her family.’

Sarah Brown, the wife of the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote: ‘Sad sad news of Amy Winehouse. Great talent, extraordinary voice and tragic death. Condolences to her family.’