Fashion designer Alexander McQueen dies on eve of mother's funeral

According to Daily Mail, McQueen’s body was found by his cleaner when she arrived at the flat, in a six-storey redbrick building near Hyde Park, Thursday morning and she dialed 999.

Death is a possible suicide
Although authorities said the death was not suspicious, apparently ruling out foul play, but some media outlets are reporting that the circumstances pointed to a possible suicide. However, there was no confirmation from police or McQueen's representative or family.

Daily reports that paramedics were called to McQueen’s flat shortly after 10 a.m. but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

McQueen's body was brought out on a stretcher, covered in a maroon blanket, and was taken away by an ambulance.

A police statement, as reported by Daily, said: “Next of kin have been informed, however we await formal identification. A post mortem will be scheduled in due course, an inquest will open and adjourn in due course. The death is being treated as non suspicious.”

The tabloid also published a statement from McQueen’s design company, saying: “At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family.”

Devastated by the death of the fashion designer, whose full name was Lee Alexander McQueen, the family asked for privacy.

“Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this,” the company said on behalf of his family.

McQueen couldn’t cope
McQueen apparently hanged himself in his London home, devastated by the death of his beloved mother.

It has been reported that McQueen's mother passed away just days ago, and that days after her death the heart-broken fashion designer posted anguished online remarks about his mother Joyce.

McQueen, known for producing some of the most controversial collections of the past twenty years, reportedly wrote in a Twitter post that his mother died Feb. 2.

The fashion designer’s death came three years after his closest friend Isabella Blow, who helped launch his career, committed suicide shortly before London's Fashion Week.

“His mother died and he couldn't cope. He just went to bed for a week. His Paris show is coming up and his staff have been nagging him all week to get up and start working,” Daily quoted an unnamed friend of the designer as saying.

“But he wouldn't get out of bed, he just couldn't get up. He hasn't even been to any of his fittings for the show. He was so upset about his mother. It was her funeral tomorrow and he couldn't face it.”

A bit more on the designer
McQueen’s designs were favored by celebrities such as Madonna, Lady Gaga and Naomi Campbell and he was one of the youngest designers to win the title "British Designer of the Year." He won it four times between 1996 and 2003.

He was working as Creative Director with Gucci Group, and had his own boutiques in New York, London, Los Angeles, Milan and Las Vegas.

McQueen is survived by his father, Ron, and five siblings, Janet McQueen, Tracey Chapman, Jacqui McQueen, Tony McQueen and Michael McQueen.