George’s condition took a turn for the worse early in November 2001. The cancer had returned with a vengeance and was ravaging his already weakened body.

Under a cloak of secrecy, George and Olivia returned to the States and the frail musician checked into New York’s Staten Island University Hospital. Friends and family began to gather. In the hands of Dr Gil Lederman, a pioneer in the cutting-edge cancer treatment procedure known as Fractionated Sterotactic Radiosurgery, George was treated with a cutting-edge procedure that uses high doses of radiation to attack cancerous tumours. George’s condition was guarded and so speculation ran rampant. More than one rumour broke that George was in fact dead.

On 8 November, Elizabeth Freund, a George Harrison spokeswoman, told the press ‘I’m glad to say he’s alive.’

But another unnamed source in George’s circle was quoted as saying, ‘He’s hanging on, but it doesn’t look good.’

George’s condition seemingly began to improve in the next 48 hours, to the point where he was discharged from the hospital and was continuing his treatments as an outpatient. The consensus was that while his condition was still guarded, George was improving under the treatment and that his condition was just as good as when he had first arrived.

George’s family began to break their silence on his condition. Pauline Harrison, George’s sister-in-law, said that, ‘We are all very concerned. He is very ill, but putting up a real fight.’

Paul McCartney, who was in New York at the time, was extremely saddened by George’s declining health and went to the hospital to visit his friend. It was an emotional time for Paul. During the six-hour visit, he broke down and wept as he talked with George, now confined to a bed during the treatments. They talked about the past and present, their decades-long feuds and slights dissolving in a veil of tears, good-natured laughter and wonderful memories. During Paul’s visit, George was reportedly in good spirits, knowing in his heart that death was near and bravely preparing to meet his maker. The consensus from those in his inner circle of family and friends was that he was only undergoing the radical treatments to extend his life and the time he had left with Olivia and Dhani.

On 15 November 2001, George, Olivia and Dhani flew out of the Newark, New Jersey airport on a private jet, headed for Los Angeles and continued treatment at the UCLA Medical Center. While in Los Angeles, George and his family stayed with family friend Gavin de Becker. George’s health, despite the continued radiation treatments, continued to decline rapidly during the next ten days and the press was alive with reports on 25 November that George would not live out the week.

According to reports emanating from his inner circle, George was resigned to his fate and was revelling in being in the bosom of his loved ones during his final days. George Harrison was ready to go to God.

George Harrison passed away on 29 November 2001 at 1.30 p.m.

Out of respect to George’s decades-long devotions to Indian mysticism and Hinduism, George’s remains were cremated within hours of his death at the Hollywood Forever Memorial Park. Olivia and Dhani returned to London with George’s ashes where formal Hindu rites were performed by two members of the Hari Krishna religious community.

And finally, in conjunction with Hindu teachings, Olivia and Dhani travelled to India where, in a pre-dawn ceremony on the banks of the Ganges River, George’s ashes were immersed in the water. According to Hindu religion, this final act would allow for the final separation of George Harrison’s soul from his body and would allow his spirit to avoid the cycle of reincarnation and to travel straight to heaven.

As his ashes dissolved in the sacred waters of India, the worldwide call went out. George Harrison had gone to his home . . . And was finally at rest.