Comedian Ian Cognito dies on stage in front of shocked audience just minutes after joking about having a stroke

COMEDIAN Ian Cognito died on stage in front of a shocked audience just minutes after joking about having a stroke.

He reportedly suffered a heart attack while performing on stage - after people thought it was part of his act when he sat on a chair and "laid back".

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Paramedics rushed to the Lone Wolf Comedy Club in Bicester, Oxon, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

John Ostojak, who was in the audience, told the BBC: "Only 10 minutes before he sat down he joked about having a stroke.

"He said, 'imagine having a stroke and waking up speaking Welsh."

He later sat on a chair for five minutes - as people thought it was a joke still - before the compere went on stage and called an ambulance.

It had haunting echoes of the death of legendary comic Tommy Cooper who also fell fatally ill during a show with the audience believing it part of the act.

He collapsed to applause on April 15, 1984, in the hit variety show Live From Her Majesty's but had suffered a heart attack.

Reports suggest that the much-loved comedian Cognito had been taking medication for a heart condition.

Tributes poured in for Cognito, with fellow stand-up comics describing him as "one of the most charismatic performers".

Comedian Rufus Hound told his 1.13million Twitter followers: "Ian Cognito has died.

TRAGIC DEATH

"That might not mean much to you if your knowledge of stand-up only extends to a screen but for anyone who ever sat down in a comedy club and saw him on a stage - this is a hard one.

"Puck grew up and now Puck is dead. We have lost one of the greats."

A statement from the ambulance service said: "We were called at 22:11 last night to Crown Walk in Bicester to a medical emergency.

"We sent a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance crew but sadly one patient passed away at the scene."

Comedian Mark Olver said: "A sad day for comics today. The great Ian Cognito passed away last night.

"All of us Bristol and West Comics were very lucky to have him living in this part of the world. One the most charismatic performers and men (most of the time) I ever met."

Comedian Mark Nelson said: "Stand up has lost a true great in Ian Cognito. A proper comedian.

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"Had two epic drinking sessions with him, once at Rockness, the other in Liverpool.

"Both times he gave me more sound advice than a newbie like me deserved.

"RIP Cogs. I’ll be having a Guinness for you tonight pal."

Cognito, who was born in London, won the Time Out Award for stand-up comedy in 1999.

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