Actor Christopher Reeve has died after going into a coma at his New York home, his publicist Wesley Combs has said.

The 52-year-old had been suffering from an infection as a result of a pressure wound and died on Sunday, Mr Combs told the Associated Press news agency.

Reeve, who became famous for starring in the Superman films in the 1970s and 80s, was paralysed in a riding accident nine years ago.

He had become an advocate for spinal cord injury research.