Cilla Black Died From Stroke After Fall

Cilla Black died of a stroke after falling and hitting her head at her Spanish villa, her sons have confirmed.

The 72-year-old was sunbathing on her private terrace at her villa in Estepona when she got up, lost her balance and fell.

A post-mortem examination revealed she was knocked unconscious and died of a stroke.

She would not have suffered, a family statement added.

Black's three sons say they are "devastated by the sad loss of our mother".

They said: "We have been deeply touched by all the kind messages of support from her friends, fans, the public and media.

"We would like to thank everyone, especially the people of Liverpool.

"The tributes and condolences have really helped us through these difficult times.

"The Spanish authorities have now told us we are able to bring Mum home, which we hope to do as quickly as possible.

"We would also like to thank all those involved for their assistance with this matter.

"We respectfully request for our continued privacy to grieve."

Funeral details have yet to be released.

News of the TV presenter and singer's death broke on Sunday lunchtime - prompting scores of tributes from the showbiz world led by former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr .

The post-mortem seemed to confirm rumours circulating in Estepona.

Speaking outside the showbiz icon's home before the results were made public, Sky's Enda Brady said: "What a lot of people in the area are saying is that Cilla arrived here on Friday with her son Robert for a brief holiday.

"She had only been here one day, she went for a siesta Saturday afternoon and when she didn't come down from her bedroom her son went looking for her and he basically broke the door down and found his mother dead."

Friends of the star have spoken about how she knew her health was deteriorating and had spoken about missing her late husband and manager Bobby Willis, who died in 1999.

The Liverpool-born star shot to fame in the 1960s with the Number One singles Anyone Who Had A Heart and You're My World.

She went on to present the hit television programmes Surprise Surprise and Blind Date, which ran for 18 years.

Born Priscilla Maria Veronica White, Black began her career as a part-time cloakroom attendant at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, where the Beatles regularly played.

She is said to have impressed the band with her impromptu performances and was introduced to the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein by John Lennon.

Epstein went on to sign her as his only female client.

Black was awarded an OBE in 1997.

The song Anyone Who Had a Heart jumped 32 places overnight, to put it at number 59, while The Very Best Of Cilla Black is up to number 25.