Joan River's family has announced that the comedian has passed away at the age of 81.

Joan Rivers has passed away after being on life support in Mount Sinai Hospital. She had suffered a cardiac arrest in New York last week. She was 81.

In a statement, her daughter Melissa said she died surrounded by family and friends, and she thanked hospital staff for their "amazing care".

'My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.'