Prince, 57, dies at Minnesota estate days after being rushed by private plane to hospital

Prince has died aged 57 at his estate in Minnesota, just days after he was rushed to hospital from his private plane with severe flu.

Paramedics were called out to the music icon’s Paisley Park estate at 9.43am and Carver County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that there had been a fatality.

A forensics team and a medical examiner are at the scene.

Prince – full name Prince Rogers Nelson – was rushed to hospital six days ago with flu symptoms after his private plane made an emergency landing.

He was aboard his private flight when he fell ill, forcing it to make an unscheduled landing in Illinois on Friday morning.

TMZ reported that the seven-time Grammy award winning singer’s plane diverted to Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois, to make the emergency landing.

He had had been suffering from flu for a number of weeks and was believed to be recovering, but took a turn for the worse in the early hours of Friday.

Prince, who was a Jehovah’s Witness, was treated for three hours before being released.

Initial reports on his condition painted a much graver pictures, with one source claiming at the time he was ‘not doing well’.

The Purple Rain hitmaker had performed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta on last Thursday night – the second of two back to back sold out shows – and had seemed fine during the concert.

Prince made what is believed to have been his final public appearance on Saturday at a dance party in Minnesota.

He was keen for people to have ‘living proof’ that he is still alive, and he arrived at the bash to show off his new guitar and piano.

He didn’t sing, but he did tell the crowd: ‘Wait a few days before you waste any prayers.’

A picture posted by a fan on Instagram appeared to show Prince riding a bicycle outside his estate on Sunday.

The superstar musician combined rock, R&B, soul and hip-hop to create a unique sound that led to him selling more than 100million records during his 40-year career.

Tributes started pouring in almost immediately, with dozens of stars expressing their grief following the death of the music icon.

Boy George tweeted: ‘Today is the worst day ever. Prince R.I.P I am crying!’

Joan Collins said: ‘Shocked that @prince has died at only 57. Such a talent to have died so young.’

‘Omg….. RIP Prince,’ Demi Lovato tweeted.

‘And just like that….the world lost a lot of magic,’ tweeted Katy Perry.

Director Spike Lee said: ‘I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humor.’

Retired basketball star Shaquille O’Neal wrote: ‘R.I.P PRINCE, another icon gone too soon.’

Prince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1958 and started making music at the age of seven.

He went on to have four number 1 albums in the U.S. starting with Purple Rain in 1984 and continuing with Around The World In A Day, Batman and 3121.

The legendary singer and songwriter is best known for hit songs such as Raspberry Beret and Little Red Corvette.

He first found fame in the late 1970s and over the next three decades became known as one of the most inventive and eccentric forces in American pop music.

Prince, an intensely private person, sold more than 100 million records during his career, won seven Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

In 2007, he played the Super Bowl in one of the most celebrated such performances.

His most recent album, HITnRUN: Phase Two was released in December 2015.

In 1993, Prince legally changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, but later changed it back again.

He was born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958, and is said to have written his first song at the age of 7.

As well as singing and writing, he played multiple instruments, including guitar, keyboards and drums.

His music was marked by sexually charged lyrics and explosive live performances.

Prince married backup dance Mayte Garcia on Valentine’s Day in 1996. He dedicated the song he Most Beautiful Girl in the World to her two years earlier.

They split in 2000 and he went on to marry Manuela Testolini a year later. They divorced in 2006.

Source: The DailyMail