Travolta tells of heartbreak over loss of 16-year-old son

Published on Monday 5 January 2009 00:27

HOLLYWOOD star John Travolta last night spoke of his heartbreak at his 16-year-old son's tragic death.

In his first public statement since his son Jett died at their Bahamas home, Travolta said he and his wife Kelly Preston were "heartbroken that our time with him was so brief".

The couple said Jett was the "most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered."

Bahamas police superintendent Basil Rahming said a caretaker found Jett unconscious in a bathroom late on Friday morning before he was pronounced dead at hospital. It is thought he had a history of seizures.

The Travoltas' lawyer, Mike Ossi, said the film star desperately tried to resuscitate his son.

He said: "He didn't want anything to happen to that boy, and he kept on trying to revive him. He did mouth-to-mouth until they had to physically remove John to take Jett to the hospital."

The couple also have an eight-year-old daughter.

Travolta, 54, is finalising funeral arrangements and hopes to fly his son's body to Florida this week.