Final pictures of ‘frail’ David Gest on Tube before his death

ENTERTAINER David Gest spent the final 48 hours of his life alone, it was believed last night.

The celebrity, best friend of late superstar Michael Jackson, was found dead in a room at a five-star hotel just after 10.15am.

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It is understood he was discovered on the floor in the living area of a suite where he had been staying for the past six months.

Security entered the suite after he had not been seen for two days.

Police and ambulance staff were called to the scene but David, 62, was pronounced dead in the room.

Friends said they suspected the LA-born former I’m A Celebrity contestant — once married to Liza Minnelli — had died naturally after battling two years of health issues.

A source said: “There’s nothing suspicious. We think it was a heart attack or that his body just gave in.

“He hadn’t been well for the past two years. He thought he was getting better but had to leave the Celebrity Big Brother house in January because he was so unwell.

“It’s very, very sad. He’d been staying at the hotel for the past half year and had really embraced Britain.

“Security staff found him after he had not been out of his room for days. Police have been investigating in there throughout the day.

“Some of the staff have been crying because they knew him so well.”

David’s body was removed at around 3.30pm. Cops who attended the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf, East London, last night said his death was “non-suspicious”.

A Met Police spokesman said: “Life was pronounced extinct at the hotel. A post-mortem will be held.”

Close friend Imad Handi confirmed David’s death soon after The Sun Online revealed the news, saying: “David was truly larger than life. He was not just a huge talent and a dear friend but a showbiz icon.

“I know he’ll be missed by millions of fans around the world, and particularly in Britain, who came to love his charm and blistering one-liners.

“If I may steal the words of one eminent critic, David was a natural star and a genuine celebrity. I will miss him desperately.”

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David had been on a diet but told The Sun in January he was feeling better after two years of health issues, including breathing problems caused by a tumour in his neck.
He said: “It was a massive lump in the side of my neck. I got the best surgeon in Memphis and he took it out before it was malignant.
“I had a serious scare and now I’m in really good shape.”
The star was last pictured out in public last Wednesday after boarding a Tube train, aided by station staff.
Commuters at the capital’s Victoria station described him as “frail”.

Web designer Matt Hare, 34, said: “I saw him on the platform. It looked like he was asking a TFL guy for instructions or assistance. The guy helped him on to the carriage and made sure he was OK. David looked frail and quite pale and was kind of just staring up at the Tube map.”
Will Templeman, 17, who saw David on the same train travelling to Canary Wharf, described the star as "sombre" and "down".
He said: "For someone who always seems so happy on TV, he seemed a bit sombre."

Brighton-based Will said despite the entertainer's dampened mood, he still made an effort to smile and chat to passengers on board - even stopping for photographs with a family of fans.

He said the CBB star travelled to Canary Wharf, where he was found dead in a hotel room yesterday morning.
Many initially refused to believe reports of David’s death because of an infamous misunderstanding during his Celebrity Big Brother stint, which he ended after just 13 days because he was too sick to continue.
In this year’s January 13 episode of the Channel 5 show, contestant Angie Bowie was told that her rock star ex-husband David had passed away.
However, when she relayed the news to fellow housemate Tiffany Pollard, the US reality star misunderstood and thought she meant Gest, who was lying sick in bed next door.
After leaving the TV house, David said: “I’ve been so sick, and I’m really sad as I wish I could stay. It’s something I will never forget.”
The entertainer and entrepreneur went on to name his upcoming variety tour David Gest Is Not Dead But Alive With Soul. It was due to visit 24 cities this summer.

A source close to the star said last night he had suffered high blood pressure during the past few months.
He had also been unable to shake off a cough which had plagued him.
But the source said he had spoken to a pal on the phone two days ago and seemed “bright as a button”.
Musician Tito Jackson said he had chatted with Gest only days ago.
He added last night: “I am devastated at the loss of David, he was one of my best friends and had been since we were teenagers. I just spoke to him days ago and am shocked to hear the news of his death.”

The last thing David shared with his Twitter followers was a photo showing himself with members of the Dylan Tombides Foundation.
He retweeted a thank-you post from the organisation, which was launched in memory of 20-year-old West Ham academy footballer Dylan Tombides who died of testicular cancer in April 2014.
David bought a house in York in 2011 and loved the UK city so much he wanted his ashes scattered beside the Hog Roast shop in Stonegate.
He said: “I’ve lived in New York, Beverly Hills, I still have property in Hawaii, I’ve lived in Tennessee — I lived in Claridge’s for two years. But here it’s so special.
“When you have the Minster, all other churches fade by comparison.
“It has an elite beauty and the people are so special. I think I’d like to die here. Not soon, eventually.”