London, Jan 26 (ANI): Gossip websites crashed after hoaxers claimed that Hollywood hunk Johnny Depp had been killed in an accident.

The fraudsters mocked up a CNN page saying he had died in a car crash.

The reports alleged that wreckage was found outside Bordeaux, in France, and pictures showed a guard rail embedded in the car.

It was reported that the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star's body was lying nearby among booze bottles.

"The police suspect that alcohol was the cause of the accident," the Daily Star quoted the hoaxer as saying.

Twitter users forwarded the bogus report and grieving fans jammed the Internet with one search engine reporting 13million hits.

Computer experts claimed Johnny's "death" was the most searched subject in the world.

But last night the bemused actor, 46, assured fans: "I'm alive and well."

"He's fine," insisted his spokesman Robin Baum. (ANI)