Just days after rumours of his death spread like wildfire, ailing movie star Patrick Swayze has released a photo – proving he has far from lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Taken on his ranch in New Mexico, the picture shows a broadly smiling Patrick relaxing with his beloved wife of 33 years, Lisa Niemi, and their two dogs.

But it’s clear the 56-year-old’s battle with pancreatic cancer is taking its toll. He looks gaunt, with reports suggesting his weight has dropped to a skeletal 47.5kg.

A US radio station falsely posted a Twitter message last week that claimed the Dirty Dancing star had died, which quickly spread across the internet.

Even online encyclopedia Wikipedia updated its entry on Patrick, indicating the star was dead, before retracting the error when doubts about the accuracy of the reports emerged.

His furious publicist Annett Wolf released a statement saying: ‘This is to confirm that Patrick Swayze didn’t pass away this morning, contrary to severely reckless reports stemming from a radio station in Florida.

Patrick Swayze is alive, well and is enjoying his life, and he continues to respond to treatment.’