John Travolta and Kelly Preston released a statement on Sunday, thanking friends and fans for their support after the sudden death of their 16 year old son, Jett, on Friday.

“We would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent their love and condolences,” they said in a statement posted on Preston’s Web site Sunday.

“Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives,” says the statement.

“We have received many messages of condolence from around the world and we want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. It has meant so much to us. It is a beautiful reminder of the inherent goodness in the human spirit that gives us hope for a brighter future.”

The Travolta family claimed Jett went into a seizure in the bathroom of their townhouse at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel. Jett, who regularly suffered grand mal seizures, reportedly hit his head on a bathtub fixture. He was later discovered by one of his two nannies.

The family still denies Jett was autistic, instead steadfastly standing by their assertion he had a heart condition Kawasaki Disease.

Jett, his family and his two nannies had been boating on January 1. They returned to their townhouse ataround 6 PM. Jett was tired, went into his bedroom and went to sleep.

We’re told nanny Jeff Kathrein watched TV in the adjoining room. The other nanny, Eli, returned to the townhouse at around 11:30 PM. Both Jeff and Eli turned in at around that time. After Jeff got up, he went into the bathroom and discovered Jett laying on the floor.

As for when Jett was last seen, cops say it was the at around 11:30 the night of January 1, when he went to the bathroom. Michael McDermott, John Travolta’s lawyer and close friend, says Eli or Jeff may have gone into that bathroom during the middle of the night so the time frame would have been compressed.

We’re told Jett’s disabilities included the inability to communicate well, in addition to some physical disabilities. As a result, there was a baby monitor in his room as well as a chime on the bathroom door. It’s unclear if the two nannies slept through any signs of movement. The townhouse is relatively small — around 1,000 square feet — and the nannies and Jett were all on the bottom floor.

McDermott told us it’s not unusual for Jett to sleep 12, even 16 hours a day, so Jett not being present is not unusual.

Authorities in the Bahamas scheduled an autopsy headed by two pathologist for Monday.

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