David Bowie reportedly died from liver cancer

Los Angeles - David Bowie's collaborator has claimed he died from liver cancer.

The legendary singer tragically passed away on Sunday after a secret 18 month battle with cancer and director Ivo van Hove, who he worked with on his stage show Lazarus, has revealed the late star told him he "wouldn't always be able to be there".

He said: "I have known for about a year. We began collaborating on our show, Lazarus, and at some point he took me to one side to say that he wouldn't always be able to be there due to his illness. He told me he had cancer, liver cancer.

"The cast didn't know all that time, and I suspect that the musicians with whom he recorded Blackstar didn't know either. He made every effort to complete those two projects on time, not to let his illness win."

Desperate not to disappoint his fans despite his poor health, the Starman hitmaker attended the December premiere of his musical in New York but "collapsed from exhaustion" behind the scenes.

Ivo added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It was written that he looked so well, so healthy. But behind the podium he collapsed from exhaustion. It was then that I realised that it may be the last time I would see him."

Click here to read more about liver cancer on Health24.