Amy's death left her dad in a state of shock

MITCH Winehouse went "numb" when he was told his daughter Amy had died.

The father of the Back to Black singer had just arrived in New York City on July 24 when he got a call from Amy's minder to tell him she had passed away unexpectedly at her home in north London and he admits he will never forget that sad day.

Mitch, 60, told The Sun newspaper: "I was in New York when I found out. I was at my cousin's, cuddling his newborn babies.

"He had just been asking me how Amy was. I said she was fine - then my phone rang.

"It was Andrew, her security guard, in tears. He said something terrible had happened. Amy had died. I couldn't understand him at first. I was like ice. I was cool as a cucumber. I told him to tell me again . I was in a terrible state of shock. I was just sitting there."

After hearing of Amy's death Mitch flew straight back home to the UK and h spent the entire flight in a state of total shock that his 27-year-old daughter was gone.

He explained: "I was just sitting there. The flight home was horrendous. In my mind, I was saying, 'Stop messing about, Amy'.

She was a practical joker and I just hoped everyone had it wrong - even though I knew it was right. It was horrible. I couldn't cry. I wasn't able to do anything. I was just numb."

Mitch believes Amy - who had struggled with alcohol and drug abuse before her death - passed away from a seizure related to her alcohol detoxification.

The cause of her death has not yet been determined.