A FAMILY rocked by a series of tragic deaths heard they will never know exactly what killed their brother.

Heavy drinker Kevin Michael Jackson, 47, was found dead in a bedroom just weeks after he vowed never to touch alcohol again.

A Blackburn inquest was told that Mr Jackson came from a family of 12 brothers and sisters.

But they had all been shattered by sudden deaths which included mother Mary, brother Paul and an aunt all with brain haemorrhages, brother Thomas with a heart attack, brothers Doug and Joseph dying as children, an aunt suffering a brain haemorrhage, the grandmother with pneumonia and a stillborn baby.

Mr Jackson had been staying with Annie Smith, a friend of 12 years, at Selkirk Close, Blackburn, in the days leading up to his death. She said he had lost so much weight that he could fit into a pair of her 13-year-old son's jeans.

Miss Smith said he had been complaining of back pains and a stabbing sensation in his right side.

Mr Jackson's sister, Patricia Pickering, of Byrom Street, Blackburn, said in a statement to police: "Sudden death is not uncommon in my family."

Home office pathologist Dr William Lawler said a post-mortem examination had revealed nothing out of the ordinary but some cells found in the lungs may have indicated an undiagnosed heart problem.

He said he found Mr Jackson to be of average build and not undernourished.

Dr Lawler said: "Blood tests showed no signs of alcohol or other substances and from time to time we do encounter these cases where you cannot find an exact cause, which is frustrating and annoying."

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, deputy coroner Michael Singleton said: "Mr Jackson died from a disease which has not been ascertained but I am satisfied it was natural causes.

"It is very rare one hears of such tragedy in one family and I would like to express my condolences."

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