The king of Saudi Arabia has been ‘clinically dead’ for almost a week and is on life support machines, according to local media.

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud has been critically ill since last Wednesday, according to a Saudi journalist working in London, and has not been seen in public since.

The 89-year-old monarch is reportedly only alive thanks to being linked up to a ventilator, but his vital organs have stopped functioning.

It is the second time the Saudi news service has reported the ‘death’ of the king in recent months.

The Royal Court, which represents the Saudi royal family, has yet to comment on the claims.

In November last year, Saudi state media announced that the King had successfully undergone a back operation to tighten a loose ligament.

Contradicting this, Asharq Alawsat reported the king was ‘clinically dead’ almost a week after the procedure.

The news service said he had slipped into a coma, but this was rejected by the Royal Court.