Cilla Black death: Childhood friend of singer and entertainer says she knew she was going to die

Terry McCann says Black was losing her hearing and eyesight, had arthritis and missed her husband Bobby Willis

Paramedics arrived at the property, named Casa Roll on the Costa del Sol near Marbella, at around 6pm but were unable to save Black ( Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Cilla Black knew she was going to die and told a close friend that her late husband was "waiting for me", it has emerged.

Black told childhood friend Terry McCann that she was losing her hearing and eyesight, had arthritis and missed her husband Bobby Willis who died in 1999.

McCann told BBC News: “I wasn't surprised when I found out she had died”

“She willed herself to die. She said, 'Bobby's waiting for me’”.

Reports have emerged that Black’s body was discovered by her son Bobby after he went into her bedroom when she failed to wake up from an afternoon siesta.

Bobby, the singer’s eldest child aged 44, was forced to break open her door when he got no response from the star after he went to check on her late on Saturday afternoon, according to the Telegraph.

The Sun has reported that Spanish sources said that Black’s son found his mother lying on her back on a terrace adjoining her room.

Paramedics are said to have arrived at the property, named Casa Roll on the Costa del Sol near Marbella, soon after at around 6pm but were unable to save her.

Marks have reportedly been found on her body which were consistent with a fall, however it has not yet been determined why she could have fallen fell and what effect it had on her.

Black spoke of wanting to die before she reached 75 to avoid the painful death that she had seen her mother go through after she developed osteoporosis.

Tributes have flooded in for the singer and TV presenter after news of her death broke on Sunday. Her close friend entertainer Paul O’Grady described her as a “strong woman”.