Heath LedgerHeath Ledger had reportedly been battling depression and sleeping problems for months before his death yesterday afternoon.

Heath was found, lifeless, in his bed at his Soho, New York apartment around 3.26pm (local time) yesterday by a housekeeper and a masseuse. The housekeeper called the police while the masseuse called Ashley Olsen’s bodyguard, who she knew was nearby and a fully trained EMT (the US equivalent to a paramedic). He arrived at the same time as the emergency services, who then attempted CPR and other resuscitation measures on the actor but inside sources report he “had been dead for a while” by that point, with no visible signs of trauma.

A police source told the New York Post that three bottles of prescription pills were found in his bedroom, including antidepressant tablets and sleeping medication Ambien.

In a New York Times interview late last year, Heath himself admitted he was having problems sleeping, particularly during the filming of new Batman film The Dark Knight where playing the psychopathic Joker left him physically and mentally drained: “Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night. I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going”.

Friends of the actor also noted his depression over the four months since splitting from partner Michelle Williams.

A source told the Daily Mail: “Heath was shattered by his split from Michelle. He became a recluse. He barely slept he was dealing with terrible mood swings.”

A second source told Us Weekly: “This is terrible and I’m in shock. But to tell you the truth… we saw it coming.”

“Things were very dark. His one joy was [two year old daughter] Matilda. Everything else was misery for him. Unfortunately he was too late in getting help.”

However, his family are keen to stress that Heath’s death must have been an accidental overdose rather than suicide. Father Kim Ledger issued a statement yesterday: “We, Heath’s family, confirm, the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3.30pm US time.”

“We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.”

“He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our families need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately.”

Heath’s ex-girlfriend Michelle has yet to issue an official statement about his death but a source close to the former Dawson’s Creek star explained that Michelle “is devastated” for both herself and daughter Matilda: “I can’t believe Matilda is going to grow up without a dad, without knowing her father. And that Michelle will have to deal with having a daughter who’s lost her father.”

“She’s a survivor. She’ll make it, but it’s going to be hard. Her first concern is going to be Matilda.”

Michelle was filming on location in Sweden when the news broke yesterday afternoon but is said to have returned to the US overnight.

Heath’s body was removed from his apartment early yesterday evening by the city’s Medical Examiner’s Office and an autopsy has been scheduled to take place today.

UPDATE: The Medical Examiner’s spokesperson has announced that the initial autopsy proved “inconclusive”: “We have to do further testing including toxicology and tissue testing. Neither cause of death or manner of death has been concluded. We expect additional results in 10 days to two weeks.” The “inconclusive” verdict is judged to rule out most common natural causes of death and those associated with trauma, leaving a drug overdose of some description the most likely cause.