Heath Ledger's friends saw his death coming

"This is terrible and I'm in shock," a close friend of Ledger's tells US. "But to tell you the truth... we saw it coming."

"Heath has gone though a rough road of trying to get sober," the source tells Us.

"Things were very dark," the source says. "His one joy was Matilda." Matilda is his 2-year-old daughter with ex-wife Michelle Williams. They split in September.

"Everything else was misery for him," adds the source. "Unfortunately he was too late in getting help."

Ledger, 28, was found dead, in his SOHO apartment.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ sleeping pills were strewn around the bed of Heath Ledger.

One law enforcement source said it is much too early to determine if the death was accidental or suicide

Ledger's body was found face down on the bedroom floor. There are no visible signs of any trauma.