Amy Winehouse found dead aged just 27

By Charlotte Fantelli

Amy Winehouse's troubled life has today come to an end. The 27 year-old singer has been found dead at her North London home.

The cause of her death has not yet been confirmed, but it is speculated that the troubled 'Back to Black' star's drink and drug abuse is to blame.

I had the job of writing a feature about Blake Fielder-Civil last year and I reported on the turbulent, destructive and passionate relationship he had with Amy. During this time my opinion of the couple changed. Speaking to the family and getting to see the pair as they really were, showed me just how these two vulnerable people had been torn apart by drink, drugs, self-harm and a fame that they just could not handle.

Amy joins the '27 club', that cursed age in show business that has claimed many, many troubled stars such as; Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and many more. Amy's decline over the past few months has been well publicised, indeed I got reports on my desk about her being booed off stage and her incoherent slurred performances, but I did not report on them as I thought it would not be right to further scrutinise her and the demons she had to fight.

Never the less it has been no secret that Amy has been losing the fight and despite further rehabilitation treatment earlier this year, it was to be that Amy's demons would finally win the battle.

It is my sincere hope that if anything good can come from this tragedy, it is to remind the young and vulnerable that look up to such stars, that the lifestyle Amy lead was not one to be glamorised or glorified, but one with serious and tragic consequences.

It is with great sadness that the Mental Healthy team extend our condolences to Amy's loved ones at this time.