REVEALED: Cilla Black died of a stroke after falling and hitting her head, autopsy confirms, as her heartbroken sons say they will now 'bring Mum home as quickly as possible'

  • Cilla Black collapsed on the terrace of her Marbella home on Saturday
  • Autopsy confirmed she died after falling and suffering a stroke
  • The 72-year-old's sons are making plans to return her body to Britain
  • Details of the much loved entertainer's funeral have not yet been released

Legendary entertainer Cilla Black died of a stroke after falling and hitting her head at her Marbella home, an autopsy has confirmed.

Today her sons said they were 'devastated by the sad loss of our mother' and they hoped to bring her home to Britain 'as quickly as possible'.

The 72-year-old star collapsed suddenly on Saturday while she was sunbathing on a terrace at her luxury holiday villa in Spain.

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Cilla Black's sons Robert (left), Jack (centre) and Ben (right) pictured leaving the holiday home today

Cilla Black's sons Robert (left), Jack (centre) and Ben (right) pictured leaving the holiday home today

Cilla Black's sons leave Estepona Court today after signing papers relating to the death of their mother

Cilla Black's sons leave Estepona Court today after signing papers relating to the death of their mother

The star was found on this terrace of her villa near Marbella by the eldest of her three sons, who had to break down her bedroom door to get in and reach her

The star was found on this terrace of her villa near Marbella by the eldest of her three sons, who had to break down her bedroom door to get in and reach her

Cilla Black (pictured in May last year) died after falling, hitting her head and suffering a stroke
Tributes left outside The Cavern Club in her hometown of Liverpool

Cilla Black (pictured left in May last year) died after falling, hitting her head and suffering a stroke. Pictured right are the tributes left outside The Cavern Club in her hometown of Liverpool

The star was found by the eldest of her three sons, who had to break down her bedroom door to get in and reach her.

Today an autopsy confirmed the entertainer was sunbathing on the terrace at her private villa when she stood up, lost her balance and fell, hitting her head.

The fall knocked her unconscious and she subsequently died of a stroke. Her family said she did not suffer.

In a statement, her sons Robert, Ben and Jack said they were 'devastated' by the loss of their mother but 'deeply touched' by the nation's messages of support.

'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.'

Temperatures in southern Spain soared to 31.8C (89F) over the weekend in its hottest summer in 40 years. This year Spain suffered its longest heatwave ever with four hot spells, one lasting ten days with temperatures up to 48C (118F).

Miss Black had only arrived at her villa on Friday afternoon after flying from Britain with Robert to nearby Malaga airport.

Smiling: Cilla stopped to pose with fans at Malaga Airport after landing in Spain on Friday afternoon. This is thought to be the last picture taken of the star

Cilla, pictured at her favourite restaurant in Marbella with owner Sandro Morelli, and her friends, including Sir Cliff Richard 

Cilla, pictured at her favourite restaurant in Marbella with owner Sandro Morelli, and her friends, including Sir Cliff Richard 

Mr Morelli (centre) regularly entertains celebs from across the world at his restaurant and pictures of Cilla relaxing at his eaterie with Sir Cliff Richard on Marbella’s famous Golden Mile line the walls of his restaurant

Mr Morelli (centre) regularly entertains celebs from across the world at his restaurant and pictures of Cilla relaxing at his eaterie with Sir Cliff Richard on Marbella’s famous Golden Mile line the walls of his restaurant

CILL, I LOVE YOU: CLIFF'S POIGNANT FAREWELL TO FRIEND OF 50 YEARS

Close: Cilla and Sir Cliff in Marbella at her favourite restaurant 

Close: Cilla and Sir Cliff in Marbella at her favourite restaurant 

Sir Cliff Richard has penned an emotional farewell to his ‘wonderful friend’ Cilla Black, who he had planned to meet this week.

Paying respects to her ‘honest and gritty’ personality, Sir Cliff wrote: ‘Cill, I love you.’

The 74-year-old singer befriended the star when they met on her variety show in the 1960s. 

Writing in The Sun, he said: ‘It was back when shows were still in black and white, and we sang a duet together called Passing Strangers.

‘What impressed me was that she looked me in the eyes as she sang the words, as if she really meant them. 

'Too many artists just read the lyrics – she sang them with her heart.’

He added that despite spending periods apart, it didn’t affect their companionship. ‘We became friends but only managed to meet up from time to time. 

'When we did we simply took up from where we left off.’

As well as revealing that he intended to visit Miss Black at her Spanish home this week, he recalled amusing anecdotes of his time with the TV star.

‘One of her favourite sayings was “I’m off to Cilla-up”,’ he said. ‘It meant it was time to put on her glad rags and she wore heels whatever the occasion. 

'I recall she came on a cruise with me once and was flying all over the place because she insisted on wearing heels on deck.’

His touching remarks came as Miss Black’s breakthrough track Anyone Who Had A Heart re-entered the Official Singles Chart – more than fifty years after it first took her to No1.

She had been suffering from arthritis and hearing problems and had spoken in an interview last year of not wanting to ‘linger’. 

On Sunday, one of her closest friends revealed that she was also going blind. Terry McCann believed she was ‘willing herself to die’ to be reunited with her late husband, also called Bobby.

She had travelled to her villa for the first time this year to attend a birthday party for an old friend one evening this week.

A restaurant manager in Marbella said Miss Black was due to attend his restaurant for the party of the friend, named only as Michael, along with Sir Cliff Richard. 

Photos emerged of her in previous years dining at the Villa Tiberio with friends and acquaintances, and former model Dawn Millard, 65, said Miss Black went to the birthday party every year.

She added: ‘She was a lovely woman, always the life and soul of the party. She loved her champagne. 

'She was a regular at a bar called Joys in Puerto Banus and I’d always meet up with her at the parties Jimmy Tarbuck used to host at his villa near Cilla’s.’

The open door on the right of this image leads to the small sun terrace where Cilla is thought to have died

The open door on the right of this image leads to the small sun terrace where Cilla is thought to have died

Home: The holiday home in Marbella - called Casa Roll - where Cilla Black died on Saturday afternoon. Most of the shutters were down at the property on Sunday

Home: The holiday home in Marbella - called Casa Roll - where Cilla Black died on Saturday afternoon. Most of the shutters were down at the property on Sunday

Born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool, she had spoken of how she would die happy if she were to pass away before any illness could rob her of being able to enjoy life.

As the much-loved star approached her 71st birthday last year, she said that 75 might be a good age to die.

She became one of the nation's favourite entertainers after transforming herself from a successful singer in the 1960s to the front woman on shows such as Blind Date and Surprise! Surprise!

An associate of The Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein in the early 1960s, she scored two number ones in 1964 - Anyone Who Had A Heart and You're My World - as well as enjoying many other hits, before going on to concentrate on TV.

She went on to host more than 500 editions of her programmes and was the first woman to have her own prime-time chat show on BBC1.

BIGGINS: SHE IS WITH BOBBY HAVING A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE 

Close friends Christopher Biggins and Lionel Blair welled up as they appeared on television yesterday morning to pay tribute to the beloved star.

The actors spoke of their shock and grief at Cilla Black's sudden passing to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes on ITV's This Morning on Monday.

'She was so loved,' said Biggins. 'Everybody adored her. I think that's why everyone is in such grief now. It really is a sadness that everybody is being affected by. It's a bit like Princess Diana dying.' 

Blair added: 'She was so wonderful, I can’t believe she’s no longer here.

'She is a legend, and she had an appeal that Tommy Cooper had. When she walked on, everyone smiled.' 

Devastated: Close friends Christopher Biggins and Lionel Blair appeared on ITV's This Morning to pay tribue to Cilla Black, who died on Saturday at the age of 72

Devastated: Close friends Christopher Biggins and Lionel Blair appeared on ITV's This Morning to pay tribue to Cilla Black, who died on Saturday at the age of 72

Colleagues: Biggins and Cilla had presented Surprise Surprise together in the 1980s

Colleagues: Biggins and Cilla had presented Surprise Surprise together in the 1980s

Tearful: Both men welled up at memories of their dear friend, who they described as 'wonderful'
Biggins had been planning a holiday with Cilla

Tearful: Both men welled up at memories of their dear friend, who they described as 'wonderful'

Biggins revealed he last spoke to his dear friend 10 days ago, and were planning to meet next in September.

They had even discussed a holiday to Barbados in the coming months.

'It is just a terrible loss for everybody,' Biggins said.

But he was taking comfort from the idea she was now with her beloved husband, whose death in 1999 she had never really got over.

He said: 'She is there now with Bobby and she is having a glass of champagne and saying good luck to us all.'

Eternal love: Cilla pictured with her sweetheart and future husband Bobby Willis before their marriage in 1969. Bobby was the love of Cilla's life, and she was heartbroken when he died in 1999

Eternal love: Cilla pictured with her sweetheart and future husband Bobby Willis before their marriage in 1969. Bobby was the love of Cilla's life, and she was heartbroken when he died in 1999

 

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