National Enquirer reports oxygen chamber story

Michael appears on the cover of the National Enquirer in an oxygen-chamber story involving claims about his health and attempts to live longer.

The item is important less because of the claim itself and more because it marks the growth of the bizarre tabloid mythology around Michael. By late 1986, stories about oxygen chambers, surgery and eccentric behaviour are becoming part of the public narrative around him.

This page should eventually separate confirmed facts from press invention, with source notes explaining why the story matters in the media timeline.