Jackson family mourns Michael
2009-06-26 20:20
Los Angeles - Jermaine Jackson has paid tribute to his late "legendary king of pop" brother Michael.
The tearful singer appealed for privacy following the shock death of the iconic Thriller star on Thursday at a brief press conference in Los Angeles.
"My brother, the legendary king of pop, Michael Jackson, passed away on Thursday, June 25 at 14:26. It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy are known," he said.
"The personal physician who was with him at the time attempted to resuscitate my brother - as did paramedics who transported him to the hospital.
"Upon arriving at the hospital at approximately 1.14 pm, a team of doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of one hour and they were unsuccessful.
"Our family requests that the media please respect our privacy during this tough time. May Allah be with you Michael, always."
Wailing and screaming
Michael's sister Janet - who did a duet with her brother on Scream - was shooting a music video in London and flew back to California upon hearing the news.
Her manager issued a statement saying she was "grief stricken and devastated at the sudden loss of her brother". One of Michael's other brothers Tito said he regretted not having spoken to his estranged sibling "in a while". No other members of the Jackson family have spoken out about his death.
Reports say his sister LaToya was "wailing and screaming" when she arrived at UCLA hospital to be with her other family members, including his mother Katherine. Michael's father Joe is believed to have been in Las Vegas when his son died.
Michael's ex-wives have spoken out about the tragedy.
Nurse Debbie Rowe - the mother of his two eldest children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11 - was said to be "inconsolable" at the passing of the man she was married to for two years until 1999.
His first wife, Lisa Marie Presley - who he tied the knot with in August 1994, separating 20 months later - is struggling to come to terms with the news.
"I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me," she said.
The mother of Michael's youngest son, seven-year-old Prince Michael II, is unknown.