Michael Jackson was skeletal before death

Michael Jackson was reportedly skeletal in the run-up to his death.

The late King of Pop - who died of acute Propofol intoxication in 2009 - was so thin his heart could be seen visibly beating under his skin according to make-up artist Karen Faye, who worked with him during rehearsals for his 'This Is It' residency concerts The O2 in London.

She recalled costume director Michael Bush's shock at seeing Michael's body, explaining: 'Bush said, 'Oh my God. I could see Michael's heartbeat through the skin in his chest. He was clearly upset. He was pretty much in shock.'

During the Jackson family's wrongful death court case against concert promoter AEG Live, Karen also admitted she helped retouch footage of the 'Thriller' hitmaker for his posthumous 'This Is It' documentary.

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she said: 'I was a lie. I didn't want a lie. Everybody was lying after he died, saying that Michael was well.

'Everybody knew that he wasn't. I felt that retouching Michael was just a part of that lie.'

A string of emails has been uncovered from June 2009, in which music arranger Michael Bearden told concert choreographer Kenny Ortega that Michael was so frail, he was unable to sing or dance at the same time.

The message, entitled Plan B, reads: 'MJ is not in shape enough yet to sing this stuff live and dance at the same time. He can use the ballads to sing live and get his stamina back ... I have full confidence he can sing the majority of the show live.'

However, just days before the show, Kenny was worried he would have to pull the plug on the 'This Is It' concerts altogether after Michael's deteriorating condition meant he had to be treated by Dr. Conrad Murray, who is currently serving a jail sentence for manslaughter after administering the fatal dose of Propofol.

Kenny wrote: 'My concern is now that we've brought the doctor into the fold ... the artist may be unable to rise to the occasion due to real emotional stuff.

'Everything in me says he should be psychologically evaluated. If we have any chance at all to get him back.'