Richard Simmons ‘refused medical attention after falling in his bathroom’ the day before the fitness guru died aged 76

Richard Simmons reportedly refused medical attention after falling in his bathroom the day before he was found dead.

According to TMZ, the fitness guru and TV star fell in the bathroom of his West Hollywood home Friday night after feeling dizzy.

But when his housekeeper came to help, she told Simmons to go see a doctor.

It is alleged that he did not want to go to the doctor because it was his birthday and told her he would consider going to the doctor on Saturday.

But at 10 a.m. Saturday, the housekeeper found Simmons dead on the floor next to his bed.

Richard Simmons reportedly refused medical treatment after falling the day before his death

Simmons posted a message on his Facebook on Friday as he celebrated his birthday.

Police responded to the housekeeper’s call, but he was pronounced dead at the scene with no obvious or external signs of injury.

The same day he fell in the bathroom, Simmons posted a message to his fans on Facebook to celebrate his birthday.

His message read: “Thank you… I have never received so many messages about my birthday in my entire life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a wonderful rest of your Friday. Kisses, Richard.”

On Friday, Simmons also revealed his fun plans to celebrate his birthday in a very rare interview. He told People: “But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian.”

Reflecting on his 76th birthday, he added: “I feel great! I’m grateful to be here, to be alive for another day. I’m going to spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is helping people.”

Simmons, who grew up in New Orleans’ French Quarter before moving to California, weighed 270 pounds when he graduated high school, according to his website.

His own story of struggling to lose weight, in which he tried everything from fad diets to laxatives before turning to exercise and better lifestyle choices, has inspired millions to do the same.

Photos show Simmons’ body being removed from his West Hollywood home on Saturday

Photos show the coroner carrying Simmons’ body out of his home on a stretcher Saturday.

Simmons rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with his gyms and fitness videos.

Simmons has become a master of many forms of media, sharing his hard-earned weight-loss advice as host of the Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show “Richard Simmons Show” and best-selling author of books and the Deal-A-Meal diet.

He also opened exercise studios and starred in exercise videos, including the hit single “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” which became a cultural phenomenon.

Simmons’ show was broadcast on 200 networks in America, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and South America. His first book, Never Say Diet, was a bestseller.

He was known for counseling the severely obese, including Rosalie Bradford, who held the record for the world’s heaviest woman, and Michael Hebranko, who credited Simmons with helping him lose 700 pounds.

After winning over a legion of fans with his infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped away from the spotlight in 2014.

Simmons revealed he had been diagnosed with skin cancer in an emotional Facebook post in March after discovering a “strange lump” under his right eye.