John Travolta talks of son's death

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John Travolta

John Travolta spoke moving about trying to save his dying son's life, as he gave evidence at an £18m blackmail trial.

John, 55, described performing CPR on his son Jett, as the teenager lay unconscious on the floor of the family's holiday home in the Bahamas. Jett later died in hospital.

The actor was giving evidence during the trial of two men accused of trying to extort £18m from him over publishing a medical document.

John said he was woken by Jett's nanny pounding on his bedroom door after the 16-year-old had been found unconscious after suffering a seizure on 2 January this year.

'I ran downstairs to help my son with my wife. I saw him on the bathroom floor. His other nanny, Jeff Kathrein and a woman from Old Bahama Bay was doing CPR on him,' he told the court.

'I took the place of the woman. Jeff was doing compressions and I was doing breathing. I asked if an ambulance had been called and was told 'yes'.'

It is the first time John has spoken in public about Jett's death.

He also revealed during his testimony that Jett was autistic and would frequently suffer from seizures that would leave him needing to sleep heavily.

'Every five to ten days he would suffer a seizure lasting 45 seconds to a minute and then sleep for about 12 hours,' said John.

The Pulp Fiction star is one of 14 witness in the blackmail trial.

Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and his accomplice Pleasant Bridgewater are accused of trying to blackmail the actor over threats to publish a 'refusal of medical attention' form.

John signed the form and asked for his son to be taken to the airport, rather than the hospital on the island. However, Jett was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The pair allegedly hoped to extort £18m from the star in order to keep his 'refusal' to help his son out of the media.

Both men deny the charges. The trial continues.

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Thursday 24 September 2009

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I wish people would just leave the Travolta Family alone. I have a son that has seizures, and believe me as a parent there is nothing we would not do for our child. I would take my son's place in a heart beat and I know John Travolta would have done any thing humanly possible to protect his Son. I feel so bad for the family and pray I don't have to go through something like that, but would be devestated if I had to.
Comment by Daryl on September 28 15:26

I think it is so sad that parents are grieving due to the death of a son and have to deal with people without a conscience over such matters. The people who are tried to extort money need to know there are worse things in life(and after life) that are worse than not having money. Support and mourn for your fellow man. This is a parent's worse nightmare! Shame on you!
Comment by Dawn on November 09 21:20