The examination showed that the star had plunged to a “severely emaciated” state. Pathologists found that his stomach was empty and only had partially-dissolved pills, which he took before the painkiller injection that stopped his heart. The report also claimed that the pop star was wearing a wig when he died and pathologists said that a little more than “peach fuzz” covered his scalp.

According to the newspaper, Jackson also suffered several broken ribs as rescuers pumped his chest after he collapsed due to cardiac arrest. Four injection wounds were found above or near to Jackson’s heart. All appeared to have resulted from attempts to pump adrenaline directly into the organ in a failed bid to restart it.

The autopsy also found bruises on Jackson’s knees and on the fronts of both shins. The report stated that Jackson’s face bore many plastic surgery scars, while the bridge to his nose had vanished and its right side had partially collapsed.

A source close to the Jackson entourage said: “Michael’s family and fans will be horrified when they realise the appalling state he was in. He was skin and bone, his hair had fallen out and had been eating nothing but pills when he died.”

Jackson’s physician Dr Conrad Murray told investigators that he did not give the 50-year-old singer the powerful painkillers Demerol or OxyContin in the hours before his death on Thursday. Murray is said to be facing serious questions about his resuscitation attempts, which began when he started as Jackson lay unconscious on a bed.